The WOW Moments

The Faith of a Child

2012-02-26T19:48:00.006-08:00

I LOVE my job! There are so many things running through my head right now, that I will try to contain in all without writing a novel. First, for those who have read my blog for a while, you know that in January 2011, I wrote a blog about a job that I really wanted, but didn't get. I was devastated. Here is the thing about the job, it was a writing position that I really would have loved, but my heart was still in children's ministry and I couldn't see anything on the horizon that God was doing there.

And now, fast forward a year and see what God has done. I'm a children's ministry director. I live and breath this stuff. It is my heart's passion. And yes, I have had to confess my lack of faith to God, and thank Him for always giving me His best even when I nag Him to give me what I want, right now!

So I encourage you with the words that God has spoken to me throughout these 12 months. Trust Him. He is a good Father. He always seeks our good and does what is best for us, even when it may not be the easiest thing for us to deal with.

So every day I walk into work with a Kool-Aid smile, extremely grateful that God allows me to minister to children every day. And here is the super-whipped, double-chocolate frosting with extra sprinkles on top this week....after just 3 weeks on the job, I had the privilege of leading a child to Christ at First Baptist Church. Later yesterday, I had the great privilege of leading my own daughter to Christ as well. And that all capped off a service where at church a six-year old shared how God gave him a story in the wind. "The Lord is telling me not to forget Him." To see Mekai share his story and his song, CLICK HERE. [By the way, this is how I started my day...see the entire sermon CLICK HERE.]

I was struck the whole day by this basic fact--the Gospel message is simple. "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Let's be about our Father's business. Take every opportunity to share the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God. AMEN!

When a broken heart brings you joy

2012-01-25T07:14:00.000-08:00

I will be starting on Monday as the children's ministry director at First Baptist Winchester. I'm so excited for the opporutunity to personally disciple children on a regular basis. There is a real reason why Jesus tells us "unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3 Children can exemplify the gospel message in such a profound way. Ministering to them challenges me to live a life that pleases God daily. As adults we can learn a lot from the example of the children around us.

I was watching my youngest son one day and he was the perfect example of a contrite heart. Psalm 51:17 tells us, “The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken (contrite) spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken (contrite) because of sadness over sin.” This is what I observed.

Our son had not been doing very well in school and we were discussing with him some of his behavior. I could see it on his face before he even said a word.

First, he agreed with us that the things he had been doing were wrong. He understood that those things were not what we expected of him, nor was he bringing honor to God or himself by his actions. For adults that means calling sin sin. Sometimes we try to dress it up to take the sting out. We use euphemisms and compare our actions to choices others have made. We have to learn to agree with God's definition of sin.

Second, I could see the tears forming in his eyes as he thought about the things he had done that day. He was truly sad because of his sin. He was not just trying to get out of punishment. And he readily agreed that he should be punished, but he took responsibility for what he had done, and he put into his own words what things he would try to work on.

This is not the first time I have my son visibly moved by something he has done and he knows in his heart that it is wrong. Our sin already grieves the heart of God. If we think of the abundance of grace He has freely lavished upon us, it should grieve our hearts too.

But here's the good news. God gladly receives us when we are sad because of our sin. He is looking for those who will be broken-hearted by their sin and will come to Him for grace to face another day. When we can own up to what we have done, that is the first step to show God that we are sorry and we want another chance to do better. Then the challenge is trusting Him to empower us to do better. Contrary to popular belief, we do not have it within us to be better, it is God in us that makes that possible.

I love His name....Immanuel...God with us. When you have a contrite heart, God will turn your sorrow into joy. May you know that joy this week.

Hope that does not disappoint

2012-01-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

I ended 2011 with a lot of questions to God about the state of my life. Had I really heard His voice when I made certain decisions? What was He trying to teach me in the time that He was clearly telling me to wait?

I was frustrated with God's timing and felt far away from His presence. There were so many areas of my life that were filled with uncertainty and I wasn't sure what God was up to.

Then one day as I was crying out to the Lord, many times literally as well as figuratively, I looked up as I was driving my kids to school and I saw a rainbow....a sign of promise.

I cannot tell you how quickly God's peace came over me. And I was reminded of when we first came to Lexington to visit, to determine if we were going to move our family yet again. On our first morning here, there was a rainbow in the sky. I smiled then taking the promise that Lexington would be a blessing to us. And it has been in many ways.

So as 2012 began, some doors that had seemingly been nailed shut last year began to open slowly and God provided HOPE. This week I have thought a lot about hope and why without it we can become discouraged and begin to despair.

Romans 5:3-6 says, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." WOW!

Well, let me tell you, I wasn't doing a lot of rejoicing as the year came to an end. But when I started to think about HOPE, I could more clearly see why God told us not worry. We worry because we have no hope. We worry because we lack the faith that God can handle whatever situation we face. We worry because we can't control the outcome of our circumstances.

Throughout this time God had also been pressing on me the need to trust His work in my life. And I found myself repeatedly praying, "Lord help me to overcome my unbelief." I think many Christians would not like to admit that they too sometimes fall into that category of not totally trusting God. We say it with our mouths, but it is not evident in our actions.

So I am excited about 2012! I'm trusting in God because it truly is a hope that does not disappoint.

[PHOTO]-I was so awed that I ran in the house and grabbed my camera. This is the rainbow I saw that day over our house.

Home for Christmas

2011-12-21T09:59:00.000-08:00

I loaded up my kids and made the 8 hour drive to my mom's house to bless her for Christmas. Not just with our presence, considering my grandmother passed in April. But with 10 helpful hands willing to help clean, move, organize, whatever was needed.

First, I had to push through the stuff that had accumulated in the few months since my niece and I had just cleaned, moved, and organized back in April. And though my husband had tried to warn me, and my sister had tried to advise me based on her own experience; I just knew I was different. I had a plan.

After my 7-year-old proclaimed that the room we were excavating to find some misplaced thing could be featured on TLC's "Buried Alive," I had no response. But I still had a plan. My son and I spent the day cleaning and organizing the kitchen, putting down shelf paper, and putting things in easy reach. We took an hour break to go eat, and when we returned, we discovered that in that short time, my mom had already started to cover the organized stuff with the clutter of the remaining stuff that we were still organizing. Surfaces and spaces that had just been cleaned, in just 60 minutes, looked like what it had before the hours we spent working on it.

And then came the teachable moment for me! I had come with my own agenda. But when you really want to bless someone, you find a way to meet them where they are and provide what they desire to receive, not what you plan to give. And I'm not talking in terms of money or material possessions. If you're going to bless someone, then do what they want to do, not what you think is best.

I spent the next two days making fruit cakes in the Christmas tradition of my grandmother, learning how to make caramel icing from scratch, and wrapping Christmas gifts for the senior citizens of our home church which we started doing when I was on the children's choir. We had a great time.

And in the end....that was the end goal. It wasn't about me. It was about her. I'm glad we came!

Pause for Perspective

2011-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had an encounter with God's point of view. I had to make some hard financial decisions and return many Christmas gifts I had purchased a few days before. So I was having this ongoing discussion with God in my car about this situation.

While I was standing in line at one store waiting for the manager to do my return, another lady was also standing at the counter. She was there for a job interview. When the cashier inquired what position she was applying for, she said, "I'll take anything you have. I just lost my husband to leukemia and I need a job."

Right then and there, it broke my heart in two. While we both waited for the manager, I struck up a conversation with her. I asked how she was doing, and if she had any kids. She said she has 3 children, with the youngest just 5-years-old. The more she talked, the sadder I became.

She said that the kids were holding up under the circumstances, but a lot of that was due to them being occupied by school during the day. She added that nights are the hardest for them.

As I left the store, I concluded my earlier conversation with God. "OK Father, I see. It's all about perspective." I thought of those dear children, who probalby couldn't care less about getting toys or clothes or anything material for Christmas. But they probably would have given everything to have their Dad back this Christmas season.

So as you run around finishing up your shopping, take time to remember what Christmas should be about. The things that really matter. And please take time to pray for the Taylor Family.

Will you believe God?

2011-10-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things to do in life is find a church home. Since I've been married, we have moved out of state 4 times. So each of those by necessity required a church move. But this is the first time that we have felt God leading us to change churches while in the same city. It has been a very interesting experience. We didn't "fall out" with anyone. We wholly believed that God said that season was complete and closed. So this is what God showed me with this situation.

Yes, there are genuine church hoppers out there: people who only want to go to the newest place on the block, or leave when the gospel begins to address sin areas in their lives, or fall out with people and so they take their proverbial ball and go home. These are the folks who won't commit to any place, but they just go with the flavor of the day.

Many people find it more convenient to hide behind the legitimate issue of "I don't want to be a church hopper." In reality, there really is something deeper going on. There are many Christians who are just going through the motions on Sunday. Some have attended a particular church all of their lives. They cannot ever see themselves attending anywhere else. However, if you look at their spiritual lives, they are stale and stagnant. Others know in their heart that God has told them to move, but they are looking for ways to negotiate with God because they will miss the relationships. Or there are so many biblically bankrupt churches on the landscape, that they don't even know where they might start to look for a new church home.

I think the root of all of this is fear. Most people stay where they are because they are scared to leave. That is not necessarily because God hasn't revealed it to them, but honestly because they are scared to be without a church home, not to have their name on the roll at some church. They cannot imagine it any other way. But that's easy. That doesn't take any faith. You just go along with the status quo. Change is difficult. I get that!

But let me humbly suggest that sometimes God is trying to grow you, to take you out of the predictable and plant you in a new field. You miss out on your blessing because you are afraid to trust God, to really believe that He can change your situation.

But what if you would believe God and trust His plan and not your fear? What if you would dare to believe that He sees your situation and will not allow you to wander in the desert for 40 years? Because ultimately, that is our fear! What if He doesn't deliver us? Then we either go back to where we were or we stay adrift.

It is a hard road. I'm a witness. It can be scary. You can feel isolated, and many times you question whether you made the right decision. But just maybe.....God is up to something and He is putting the pieces together to do an even greater thing. If we would just join Him in His work, in His plan.

WOW! I can't wait to see what God is up to in our lives. And I hope that you will trust Him with His plan for yours as well.

That Every Kid May Know

2011-10-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

With an estimated 380,000 orphans before the earthquake last year, even more children in Haiti now find themselves struggling to survive and make sense of tragedy in the world. I want to remind these children that in spite of their situation, "God sees them, God loves them, and He does have a purpose for their lives."

Leeway Artisans published my book, "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God," to help children understand what having a relationship with God is about. In just a year's time, we have now teamed up with five translators to make this award-winning book accessible to children in Haiti in their own language.

I had a friend that was going to Haiti on a missions trip to work with kids in Vacation Bible School and at an orphanage. We realized that we could have a greater impact if we sent books in Creole. And within two weeks of our confirmation to start the project, four others eagerly volunteered their time to help. It was amazing to see God bring all of the pieces together.

The project is expected to reach completion by early November with a goal of sending 1000 copies of the translated version by year's end. Donations are currently being received as the project gains momentum.

"This project is a great opportunity to serve," said Gueber Lamour, one of the translators. "I was moved by the willingness of others to dedicate themselves to provide educational tools to a nation unrelated to them in many ways. In fact, my support is a token of my gratitude for what they are doing for the children in Haiti."

Initial support for the project has been overwhelming with nearly 20% of the goal reached before any public annoucement was made.

It just resonated with people. It moved me to think about how much God loves these children in spite of everything that has happened in their country. This book is just a small way of reminding them that they are not forgotten by us, nor by their Heavenly Father. I hope that God blows us away and enables us to send thousands of books to Haiti.

The Creole version of "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God" is available for just $7 each book. For more information, visit www.leewayartisans.com/everykidshouldknow.

Thank you for your support and please remember to pray for the children of Haiti.

God says "Move On"

2011-09-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

OK....maybe it's just me, but God has really been speaking to me this week in very specific ways. And each time I am just amazed to the point that I have to write about it, to share it, just in case someone else needs to be encouraged, someone else needs to hear that same Word from the Lord.

Recently, my husband and I had been praying over a situation. On more than one occasion, we have had to agree with God that we are like dumb sheep ready to run off the cliff at any moment without guidance from the Shepherd's hand. Therefore, we had been earnestly seeking God and asking for direction.

We felt in a number of ways this weekend that God had made His answer plain to us. Then today, it was as if He were putting an exclamation point on His answer.

Part of my Bible Study assigned reading today was Exodus 14:12-15. The Israelites speaking to Moses said: "Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Okay...by this time I was about on the edge of my chair with anticipation, knowing I had one more verse to go. What was God up to? What was He going to say?

Verse 15 says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to MOVE ON!" (emphasis mine)

I had to be like one of those teen girls on TV...there was no one else around so I had to slap my computer and say "Shut....Up!" Then I cracked up laughing at God's way of saying, I've already given you the answer. When are you going to stop asking me for direction and MOVE ON!

I got the message. Absolutely! So I'm moving! I just feel that this Word isn't just for me. What situation is God saying to you, "Stop crying out to me! I've already answered your prayer. I've already shown you what to do or which way to go, now MOVE ON."

My prayer is that you will not waste another day where you, don't look back, but make the first step toward your Promised Land.

Oh that you would bless me...

2011-09-23T05:31:00.001-07:00

WOW! and WOW! I hope you have had some encounters with God in your life that takes your breath away. I was so wowed by God this morning that I had to share it.

Typically when I get ready to start a new personal study, I go into the Christian bookstore, look through the titles, read the back covers, and kind of try to find something that fits some area of my life I'm currently dealing with or something that I think I need to work on. And without fail, (except once....it's a long story), the study I pick seems tailor-made for me. Now, if that alone doesn't make you say "WOW! God"....Think about that. Some of those studies were printed years in advance and yet when I read it, it speaks to me as if God Himself penned it to speak directly to me.

This month I've been working my way through the Beth Moore study, "Believing God." I've already had several times when I had to remind myself that I don't know this woman, yet she is speaking truth directly into my situation.

Yesterday, I met with one of the translators who is working on putting my kids book into Haitian Creole. (If you don't know about that, check out the book's Facebook page or see my website in a couple of weeks). She made a comment to me as we were talking about what moves my heart as it relates to this project of providing biblical truth to Haitian kids in their own language. She said,

"It is like the prayer of Jabez. God is going to enlarge your territory."

I open up my Bible Study today and the Scripture is "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." 1 Chronicles 4:10

I think I almost fell out of my chair. This study went into its 10th printing in September 2010. It was originally printed in 2004. That means that 7 years ago, God knew that on Sept. 23, 2011, I would need that word of confirmation. WOW!

To add to my gratefulness to my Father, who lavishes His grace so richly upon me, I was overcome yesterday to just sit and think that when I was in 5th grade writing in that green spiral notebook, God knew that one day that would lead to having a book translated into Creole. I could not have imagined, but not only did He know it, He ordained it from the beginning of time.

Praise and Glory to His Name.

That is my WOW Moment! What's yours?

Bed, Bath, and way Beyond

2011-09-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

There are times in my life that I'm sure when people drive by my car that assume that I'm having some kind of fit. My hands are waving, my head is jerking, my shoulders moving, and they can't hear a thing because my windows are up and so are theirs. And when I'm in my car, I'm not even trying to contain my praise. It's just me and God as I get my praise on.

But recently, I found myself in a situation hard to contain. I was shopping in Bed, Bath, and Beyond, just listening to my MP3 player. Had it on shuffle, so there were all kinds of songs playing in rotation. But then Fred Hammond came on. And if anybody has seen my music collection, you know I'm a big Fred Hammond fan.

But this was one of my favorites, and I had not heard it in a while. It is called "No Greater Love." It simply says, "There is no greater love than the one you have for me Lord. Your mercy, so tender, erasing my transgressions. There is none greater."

That word "transgressions" got me. In a recent Bible study I came across the definition of trangressions as a "deliberate act against the law of God." WOW! That's the stuff that I do, that I know it is sin when I do it, and I still do it anyway." And He, God, chooses to erase that, to blot it out, to exterminate it, to obliterate it, because of His love for me.

I could feel that praise coming on as I thought of what God had done for me, and instead of humming along, I was beginning to sing, and I just had to thank God for what He had done in my life.

I ended up in my car in the parking lot, with the song at full blast, and then it got to the chorus and it just tore me up. "Your love for me is forever. To me there is none greater. Your love kept you hanging there. Your love kept the nails in place and let the blood flow down and reach all the way down and grab me and hold me. Your love let the spear pierce your side. Your love kept me on your mind. No greater love. Your love let them mock your name, and spit in your face, and crucify the Lamb of Glory. To me there is no greater love. Your love kept you hanging there, separated from the Father, just for me."

Needless to say, by then the tears were flowing, the snot was running, the hands were praising, I was just overcome with gratitude with what Christ had done for me. And sometimes you just have to get ugly with your praise, a little undignified, and thank God for who He is and what He has done and continues to do.

What an awesome WOW moment!

Give it away liberally

2011-08-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

My children got on me Sunday because they said "I laughed too loud in church." I have to admit that when something is funny, I laugh from the gut. I can't help it. I believe that we should be as free in our laughter as we are when we mourn. So I laugh freely.

Likewise I give my smiles away liberally and try to do the same with words of encouragement. I'm learning more and more to affirm my children and my husband, to be intentional about looking for ways to say thank you, or to compliment a job well done, not matter how small. And whenever I do that, I see their faces light up with satisfaction.

I had the chance to be on the receiving end last week when I went to Louisville to tape a training video. John Bennett, the preschool and children's ministry director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, invited me to be a part of a new website KBC is launching.

I met John less than a year ago, but he has become one of my greatest advocates. He believes passionately in my work with children and the book I have written to help parents disciple their children at home. He never misses an opportunity to encourage me, to "speak life" as it were into me personally and over my ministry. I appreciate the folks like John in my life who believe in me enough to trust God for what is not seen as if God has already brought it to completion.

But what I also like about John is he doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He doesn't just verbally encourage me. He provides opportunities to promote my ministry and for that I am grateful.

Yes....I like to laugh loudly, smile liberally, and look for ways to encourage. It feels good to be the giver and likewise to be the receiver. So let's do a little of both. Encourage someone today and I hope that what you send out will come back to you multiplied.

PHOTO CAPTION: John stopped by my booth at the Children's Ministry Expo 2011 in Lexington, KY to give me a word of encouragement.

Planting Seeds

2011-08-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I had a great experience together last week. We went to Princess Camp. Can you believe it? It was a camp to teach little girls that they are daughters of the king.

I am tremendously blessed that I get to share these opportunities with my daughter as well as invest in the lives of other little girls. I taught led the 4 and 5 year old class. That was an adventure within itself. Let me tell you.....girls, girls, girls.

I loved the fact that we learned etiquette things like how to set the table, and yes even my class mastered setting a proper princess party.

Throughout the week we also learned Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit, and how a true princess puts this Scripture into practice. We learned to "Sparkle for Jesus" and tell everyone how much God loves them.

My favorite part was that throught the whole week, it was small things that planted seeds in the hearts of these little girls that will prayerfully shape their lives in the future. There is power in being affirmed at a young age, and being told that you have worth, and value, that you are loved, and treasured.

I hope we all do that in the lives of the girls we come into contact with. Speaking affirmation into the life of a child has immeasurable consequences. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring life or death." Oh, if we would believe God's word, and put it into practice.

If we could help our children to see that they are made in the image of God, that true beauty comes from within, what an impact it would have on the choices they make and the paths that their lives will follow.

I AM a true princess, and I have a royal purpose. That is likewise true for my daughter and we were blessed to be able to attend Princess Prep School.

For more information on this awesome experience, visit www.royalpurpose.com.

Tears for Breakfast

2011-05-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

Children can really show you the heart of God. And sometimes the lesson God wants us to learn, we have a hard time receiving, but He loves us enough to keep loving us.

One Sunday, we were eating breakfast and jabbering as we were getting ready for church. My youngest son was noticeable quiet. Now, for those who know our baby boy, then you know that he is usually a ball of energy.

So I asked him what was wrong. He answered nothing, but I could tell that was not true. Finally, as he sat down beside me, I put my hand upon his and asked him again to tell me what was wrong. I could see the tears welling up in his eyes as he tried to hold them back and in a nearly inaudible whisper, he said, "I had a bad dream."

And this is what he said: "In my dream I was following God, but the Devil came along and told me to follow him. I listened to him and I did follow him. But when I followed him, he led me off a cliff, and I fell off the cliff. And now God is not in my heart anymore."

Now for those that know me, now, both my son and I had started to cry. I just pulled him up from the table and into my arms and hugged him tight, reassuring him that it was just a really bad dream, and that God is still in His heart. Sometimes a dream is so real that it is hard to distinguish where the dream ends and where reality begins. But that is why we can't depend solely on how we feel, and we must go back to what God says is true in the Bible. I wanted to reassure him that God is with him even when sometimes we do choose to follow the devil.

Later while listening to K-Love radio, I heard this passage from "Jesus Calling," a book by Sarah Young. It summarized exactly what I wanted to affirm for my son. "You are Mine for all time--and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand."

It is a message that I know that I will have to reinforce for my son as he grows in his relationship with Christ. But it was also a message I needed to be reminded of as well...that God is with me, that He chooses me, that He knows me, and that He still loves me.

I hope you know that today and that you feel the power of His presence in your life.

To read the entire "Jesus Calling" devotional, look up the reading for March 10. The Scripture for that day was Psalm 37:23-24 and Psalm 18:30.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2011-05-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

My WOW Moment today really is something that happens almost every week. When I go to work out, I'm amazed at what a fascinating creation the human body is. I think I started thinking about this one day when I was mentally zoned out so that I could get through my cardio workout.

The Bible tells says of us in Psal 139:14 that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." The New Living Translation puts it this way, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex." That is what strikes me....how complex the human body is.

Now, I know that we all learn about how the body works in health class, but have you ever really stopped to think about the skill and craftsmanship that went in to making you.

When I'm doing my workout I have to remember to hold in my abs, move my feet (without tripping over myself), do some kind of motion with my arms, and in all of this most of the time I have to remind myself to not hold my breath....so somewhere in there, I'm also breathing. But those are the things that I'm thinking about me....things that I'm aware of that my brain is communicating to my body to do.

But think of all of the things that my body does that I don't consciously tell it to do, and if I had to consciously tell it to do, I would have been dead a long time ago. Somewhere in that brain of mine my heart is being told to beat, my lungs are being told to process the oxygen and carbon monoxide reactions that are going on, my kidneys are doing there thing, blood is being pumped to my body, and lots of other stuff is going on that I could not even begin to enumerate that keeps this ole girl stepping.

So each time when I work out, I leave in awe of what God did when He created the human body. And then I also feel extremely blessed that I have the physical strength and ability to work out.

It is really the common, every day sort of things in our lives that God leaves His fingerprint, if we would take the time to look for His presence and His blessings in our lives.

So tomorrow it's Zumba! Yippee. Love it. And I will get the opportunity again to witness God's handiwork in the creation that He loves and has called by name. ME!

Psst....guess what......you have the same opportunity. You are one of God's miracles as well, fearfully and wonderfully made. Just breathe that in and see the awesomenes that is you and then give thanks to God who made you.

Now that's a WOW Moment!

Crisis of Faith Part 3

2011-03-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

When last we met, I had encountered a crisis of faith when I failed to be offered a job that I desperately wanted and more so believed that God had for me. My reaction caught me by surprise because I immediately began to question God. I wished I had not even made it past the first round of candidates.

But in the weeks following, God reminded me who He is. Not just who He is in my life, but who He IS, His character.

As I went back and forth with God, struggling between what I felt and what I knew to be true in my experience with God, He slowly drew me closer. I knew from the beginning that though I felt distant from God, it was I who had left His presence, not the other way around.

In the meantime, I was about two weeks away from going to speak at a conference that had been set up months in advance. I was asked to present three breakout sessions using my book "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God" as the backdrop.

This is how God worked. In the time I had to prepare for the conference, He really reminded me of why and how I had come to Christ. I remembered why the Gospel message was important, and what new life in Christ really looked like. He reminded me of how much He loves me, how He has gifted me, and how He has used me.

At the conference, there was such an outpouring of love and support from those who attended my sessions and the folks I interacted with at my booth.

In the weeks leading up to the conference I kept having this overwhelming feeling that God was saying to me, "Just Trust Me!"

After the conference was over and I had a chance to process the weekend, I felt awed and humbled. It was truly a time that I could say that God had used me. That He had spoken through me to encourage His people, and many, honestly, as I spoke, I was being encouraged myself.

Two days after I returned home from the conference, I received an e-mail saying they had heard good things about my session and would I come to speak at another conference coming up in Nashville. I was floored. I just started laughing when I opened the e-mail and thanked God that He showed He is always faithful, always trustworthy.

Have you ever had one of those moments where the words are coming out of your mouth to encourage someone else, but God uses those say words to encourage your own heart in a particular area? Well, that's exactly what God did. As I made myself available to be used by Him to minister to others, that entire weekend God was ministering to me. And by the end, I was on a super high.

I have such a passion for ministering to children and God reminded me to just trust Him. I still can't see around the corner, what's coming next, what God is doing, but I know that He loves me, I know Christ lives to make intercession for me, I know that God is faithful and always provides just what we need, not always what we want.

So I'm learning to be still, to wait on Him, to trust, and to praise Him in the in-between time. In that time where you are between where God has you while He is teaching you, and where God has for you when you are prepared to fulfill the next thing He's called you to. But I've also been reminded in this in-between time that God is much more concerned about my relationship with Him and who I am in Christ, than anything I could accomplish in His name.

So I came through the crisis and as always God used the trial to give me even stronger faith. It wasn't easy, I wasn't very happy about it, but I was reminded today of these Scriptures--Romans 5:3-4, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope in salvation." James 1: 2-4 says, "When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Crisis of Faith Part 2

2011-02-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

If you read my last blog, then you know just a few weeks ago, I was experiencing a true crisis of faith. I'd come to a turning point in my spiritual journey and I had to figure out did I really live my life as if I believed God's Word.

Now, it may be easy to say, "Well if you're a real Christian, then you must believe God's Word." And although ordinarily I would agree with you in a general way, I would ask you to go a bit deeper in your analysis.

As Christians, we say, "Heaven is my home, and this earth, we're just passing through." Really! Then I would say that if we Christians really lived our lives like Heaven is our home, then why do we spend so much time trying to store up treasures here, than in Heaven where we intend to spend eternity.

Or closer to the subject at hand, we say, "Let go, and let God." But then most of us set about putting into motion Plan B.

And that is where my struggle was. I know that God is faithful, that He sees everything, that He will take care of His own. But in my situation, I had to ask myself, "If I really believe God is faithful, then shouldn't my reaction to this situation be different. If I'm going to say I trust God, then shouldn't that belief transform my reactions to the everyday missteps, failures, blunders, disappointments that I face."

I had to go back to a lesson that God had taught me many years ago. In spite of how the situation had worked out, I had to take time out to remind myself of what I knew to be true about God. He is a provider. He is not able to see a need and not provide for it. He cannot lie. His purposes will always be fulfilled. He loves me with a love that will never end.

And as I mediated on these things day in and day out, I had to see my situation from a different vantage point....not from where I could see, but from where God could see. And just by changing my perspective, it changed my response.

Now, I'm here to tell you that this was not a one day turn around. It took me about two weeks to speak truth to myself. And sometimes in those very dark times in our lives, we have to know that if we have accepted Christ as Savior, then the Holy Spirit lives in us. He teaches us spiritual truth and He transforms us from the inside out. So in those times, I choose to just take my junk to God and tell Him honestly how I feel, and ask all of the questions that I have, and sometimes that means literally just crying to Him. And then when all of that is done, I trust that the Holy Spirit has translated all of that and spoke to God on my behalf, filtering out the nonsense. And then I trust, that if I come before God long enough even in my broken state, His Spirit will comfort me, and His Spirit will speak truth to my spirit and help me to move from darkness to light....to the place where I can again seek God, pray, praise, worship.

As a sidenote....when we say we are too busy to read our Bible, or do anymore than just attend church on Sunday and wait for the pastor to spoon feed us...we miss out on the many truths that God has put in His word to encourage us. One that I came across once in my personal study is Hebrews 7:25 which says, "Therefore, Jesus is able once and forever to save those who came to God through Him because He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf."

Don't miss that. Jesus Himself, our Savior, our friend, our Redeemer, He lives to go to God for me. Is there any greater advocate that I could have on my behalf than the Son of God to plead my case, and stand up for me. WOW! If that doesn't give you goosebumps I don't know what will. That blew me away when I first read and truly understood and embraced it. So that was one of those truths God had to speak to my Spirit in the darkness. He had to remind me of who He is and what He sacrificed that I might be able to come to Him as Father.

But in His greatness, He didn't stop there.

You'll have to stop by one more time to see how the story got even better. In the next edition, I'll tell you not just what He said to me, but what the amazing things He did!

Crisis of faith--Part 1

2011-02-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

I've been on a spiritual journey now for about the last two years or so. It started when God began to awakening in me this sense that there was more to being a Christ, to following Christ, to having an intimate relationship with Him. I knew I was missing something and my heart longed to draw closer to my Savior.

I was introduced to a book called "Jesus on Leadership." If you've never read it, pick it, get some friends and do a study together. It WILL change your life. Then Matthew West put out a song called, "Motions" and the song turned my life upside-down. I realized I was doing a lot of good things for God, but I wasn't really looking to God to doing any God-sized things in and through my life.

So my hunger for God grew and I kept asking myself the questions of what did it really mean to follow Christ, to be sold out to Him, to die to self daily? What would my faith story looked like if I truly lived out and beleived God for all the things I knew to be true about Him and the kind of life He wanted me to lead?

So God has been challenging me, and growing me, and pruning me. And I have just tried to be as honest and transparent with God as I could be.

And then a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to apply for a position. I've been a stay-at home-mom off and on for the past 11 years...and totally at home for the past 7 years. But now that all of our kids are in school, it made sense to start looking for a full-time job. The decision to live on one income was a sacrifice we had chosen, but it had started to really strain our finances. The job would literally change our lives.

Well, long story short, after 3 interviews over the course of about 4 months, I was really hopeful. Friends and family were praying, offering words of encouragement, and some even outright saying the job was mine. There were Scripture passages that came up in Bible studies and sermons that felt like confirmation that this was where I was supposed to be. I prayed earnestly and felt very positive about the interviews. But then I didn't get the job.

To say I was devastated would be a gross understatement. And to my surprise, I went into a tailspin of a faith crisis. I couldn't understand what had happened....and not just about the job, I struggled to understand why I was responding the way I was.

I was so frustrated and confused with God...that I didn't even know where to begin. I felt isolated and abandoned by my faith. I remember sitting in my car one morning fighting back tears because I couldn't even afford to buy my son a cup of coffee at the gas station. And in that moment, I just looked at my life and thought...this is not really what I signed up...this is not how I thought my life would be in my 40s. After all, my husband has a Ph.D. and a I have a master's degree. We got our education, we loved the Lord, we were working to raise our children to know God.

I was at a lost. I was obviously missing something. Everything that was happening in my circumstances said one thing, but my experience with God said quite another.

Stay tuned to see how God spoke!

I'm not who I was

2011-01-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

Brandon Heath has a song called, "I'm not who I was." I think the sentiment is exactly how I would sum up the perspective of my life when I look in the rearview mirror.

I was asked the question recently concerning how do I deal with difficult people. In the context, the person I thought of was a former colleague from some years ago. We had a good personal relationship, but seemed to have difficulties when it came to working together. At that time, I felt like my only recourse was to bring the situation to the attention of my supervisor, who actually did intervene.

But more recently, I have learned to deal with difficult people with a different perspective. Instead of looking at the person and wondering why they do the things they do, I turn the spotlight internally and ask the Lord, "Show me what it is that you want me to learn in this situation."

In one instance, I had someone who constantly bombarded me when I first arrived at church about issues that were quite trivial. Many Sundays it flustered me and it would get me so hyped up that those encounters would be with me all day. But after some time, when I stopped and asked God to "show me," this is what I learned.

Frankly, I learned that the situation really wasn't about her. In fact, even after I changed, it didn't change her actions. God was teaching me that I needed to spend more time in personal worship. He reminded me that the work I was trying to accomplish in His name could not be done in my own strength. When I learned to be prayed up and praised up before I walked through the doors, those encounters no longer had power over my day. It was a heart issue, but I had to invest my time looking into my heart instead of pointing the finger at someone else's.

So if I had to deal with that challenging co-worker now, my approach would be different. First, I would ask God to "show me what He wanted me to learn in that situation." Then, I would trust God to help me to show more grace, to be more prayerful, to respond with Christ's love in words and actions.

God is always willing to teach us, if we are willing to surrender to be more like Him.

My WOW Moment for today....I'm glad God has changed me and is changing me. I'm grateful that I can say with confidence, not boastfully, but knowing where God has brought me from.... "I'm not who I was."

So the next time you face a difficult situation or have to deal with a difficult person, are you willing to say to God," Father, show me...."

A Christ-transformed Life!

2011-01-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a song that literally changed the course of your life? I have. A little over a year ago I heard the song "The Motions" by Matthew West and it really did change my life. It reminded me that there has to be more to my Christian faith than just showing up on Sunday and doing "good" things.

I just felt like I was missing something, like God wanted a deeper relationship with me and that somehow I had gotten satisfied with my life as it was, comfortable with the status quo. I had gotten off track.

The song's chorus simply says, "I don't want to go through the motions, I don't want to go one more day, Without Your all-consuming passion inside of me. I don't want to spend my whole life asking, What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"

As I looked at my life and did an honest evaluation of where my walk with God was, I had to admit that it seemed stale. I wasn't growing, I wasn't being challenged in my faith, and though I felt like I was doing "good" stuff--I was giving and serving (and at that time I was actually leading a ministry), I didn't feel like I was experiencing God's best for me. As a matter of fact, although on the outside it may have seemed like I had it all together spiritually, on the inside, I wanted MORE. I knew that most days I was living my Christian walk in my own strength, and I really wanted to live a life that meant something more, that was fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So the song was the start...a spark to make me ask the questions, "What am I doing with my life? Am I really leading a life that has been transformed? And maybe, more importantly, if I had to stand before God in that moment, Would He say that I was living a life that had been transformed AND that was transforming the lives of others?"

And when I asked those questions, I wasn't very happy with the answers. And I am grateful to God that He gave me the courage not just to ask the questions, but to hear the truthful answers, and then to have the boldness to make a change.

So that was the start, and now just over a year later, I'm still looking to God to change me from the inside out...to teach me to be still enough to hear and recognize His voice, to be aware enougth to see where He is moving and jump in and be a part of what His mission is, to be sensitive enough to be moved by what moves Him, to be humble enough to see where I still need to surrender to Him, and to be willing enough to go where He leads.

Two WOW Moment Scriptures for today....when God speaks a Scripture to you in different ways...you'd better take notice....I read both of these Scriptures in my devotions this week, and they were used today in Sunday School. So I had to take a moment to recognize God speaking....

Philippians 3: 10, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death."

Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Please don't be satisfied to go through the motions...it's never too late to take that first step to leading a truly Christ-transformed life.

To listen to "The Motions" Click to see video...

A Tribute

2011-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

Today is my mom's birthday and she is 70 years old! She's not the techy sort so she'll probably never get to read this, but I had to take time today to write this tribute to her.

My mom sacrificed so much so that my brother, my sister, and I be provided for. She always made sure that we had the necessities of life, but also that we had a home where we knew we were loved.

I know that she prayed for us and still does. She made sure that we were in church and Sunday School and that she was also active in serving the Lord. Sunday School was the first place that the gospel seed was planted in my heart when I heard the story of the Prodigal Son. It would take me some time to see myself as the prodigal eating at the pig trough....but definitley my mom's influence contributed to me meeting my Heavenly Father.

At Christmas, my mom always had a present under the tree for just about everyone....and no I don't mean just the folks in my house. She has always had a generous spirit and literally there were so many presents under our tree, that they were not "under" the tree, but literally spilled out onto every surface in our living room.

My mom has to be one of the most selfless people I know, even more so that I. When the Bible says if your neighbor asks for your coat, give him your shirt as well, that's my mom. She would give you her last and never expect anything in return.

I am more than grateful that God has allowed my mom to still be here with us, to see the woman I have become, to share her life with my children. I am thankful that He has blessed her these 70 years.

Happy Birthday Mother Dear!!

In honor of my Mom and yours...I could think of no better tribute than "A Song for Mama" Click the link to listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tap90z44WR8

PHOTO CAPTION: This is one of my favorite photos because it's me, my mom, Avis Travers, and my daughter Sydney.

Your Own Private WOW Moment

2011-01-06T19:16:00.000-08:00

2010 was a mixed year for me...with some really high highs like getting my book "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God" published and then some really low lows like losing my father-in-law very unexpectedly.

But throughout it all, God continued to remind me to just keep putting one foot in front of the other...to trust Him even when uncertainly seemed present on every hand, and to praise Him in spite of the circumstances. This was not the first time God had reminded me of these things, but I certainly appreciated Him loving me enough to gently remind me again.

So...although I don't make New Year's resolutions, I will say that my goal in 2011 is to learn to be content.

We were given a homework assignment in church not too long, and I think recapping it is a great way to start off my quest toward contentment.

We were asked to write down what we were thankful for....in less than 5 minutes, here is how my list started....so it's my WOW Moment today....a Thank You God for what He's already done....

I'M THANKFUL FOR:

Salvation, my growing faith in Christ, God's grace and mercy, my marriage, my family.....

Lord I'm grateful for your presence in my life, that I get to walk with you and know you the Creator

For friendships, for gifts/abilities, for the joy of small things like laughing until you cry at something silly, for hugs and kisses, for getting to see my kids grow up, for being able to be involved in their lives, for a church that teaches your Word, for the opportunity to serve, encourage, and bless others

Thank you Lord for life, for health, for love....Thank you for safety, provisions, for the power of prayer to change things, Thank you for what you've done in my life, Thanks for keeping me, Thanks for hearing me when I pray and for picking me up when I fall

God did all of that and more for me in 2010, and though many times I whined and complained, I am even more Thankful that His love covers a multitude of sins, even my own self-centeredness....

So that's my WOW Moment today....I hope you will take the time to start a list of all that God has done in your life and then stand in AWE of who He is and have your own private WOW Moment with God.

No dreams deferred

2010-12-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago I was going through some old files and I came across a newsletter article I had planned to write called, "There are no deferred dreams with our God." To defer means to intentionally put off or delay. But don't we have dreams that are delayed?

I would answer NO. My WOW Moment today is realizing that God's timing is perfect...and where I see delay, it is simply not the right time. God is always at work to accomplish His perfect will and in due time it will be accomplished.

What we see as delay is our failure to see that we have not yet arrived at God's appointed time. And so, in many cases, we give up on a dream that God has planted in our hearts, or we become discouraged.

So I say to you today. Keep the faith. Lift up your face. Be encouraged. "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." Philippians 1:6

Trust God...not in what you can see, not in your circumstances, not even in yourself. Trust the One who never changes, who is faithful, who cannot lie. If God has given you a dream, a vision, then it is never deferred. Wait on His timing, and then rejoice when He brings it to completion. Give Him the glory because it is only through Him that any dream is realized.

Just believe it TODAY. And trust God to grow your faith. I leave you with this prayer found in Ephesians Chapter 3, Verses 16-21.

"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

Amazing Grace

2010-11-07T17:58:00.001-08:00

I grew up singing "Amazing Grace" in church. And it was always just a nice hymn. It only took on new meaning for me after I surrendered my life to Christ to follow the example He set. It was only then that the power of those words were magnified in my heart, "Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."

Today's message in church was so powerful because it was such a vivid reminder of the lengths that God went through to pursue me, save me, and have a relationship with me. It reminded me of what a personal God that I serve, that although He is the Creator of all things, He never loses sight of me.

There is a freedom that comes in knowing that my sins are forgiven and that God has made me in His image and is molding me every day to be more like His Son, the example that Christ lived out as God in the flesh, here on earth. It is more than just a Christmas card slogan, "And they shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us."

God came as a man to walk among us, to know our sorrows, our troubles, our joys, and triumphs. Then He died in our place, though we were totally undeserving because He loved us that much. Christ became sin for us, that we could escape the judgement, but reap the rewards.

Grace! It changed my life. I am redeemed. I have been bought with a high price....the Blood of the Lamb. Imagine that. I was in bondage, in darkness, a slave. But Christ seeing my condition and knowing I was powerless to save myself...He paid the ransom. That I could be set free, released, given a new life.

I hope you know Him and that you walk in that freedom each day, that you thank Him for the great sacrifice He made, that you live your life to honor the debt He paid.

The Bible says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." WOW! There is no greater love. Words can't describe the joy I have that I get to live that out each day. It is what gives my life purpose and meaning for eternity.

What is it that you're living for? Not just for today, but for eternity?

The Dream

2010-10-29T10:55:00.001-07:00

I haven't been very political in my blog although I am very passionate about politics. But something happened this week that I just had to share.

I talked to a child this week who cried on my shoulder because her Dad may be deported. It broke my heart, as I prayed with her and cried with her and tried to assure her that everything would be okay. I tried to comfort her with the reminder that her Dad loves her and wants her to have the best chance at a good life.

And what struck me most about that was earlier in the week I had watched CNN's Black in America special, "Almighty Debt." One thing that the featured pastor asked was "Why are other people risking their lives to come here....to obtain the dream, but we who have been here, can't see the dream?"

I don't know the answer to that question. I struggle with that when I see kids, black and white, who seem to take it for granted that we get to go to school for free. Education is free in this country. We can't see the dream or remember what folks sacrificed for things we take for granted.

As Election Day approaches, all of these things have coalesced together in my mind. So my WOW Moment today is I am truly glad to live in this country....to be an American....to have liberties and freedoms that some can only dream of. I am grateful for those who died that I might have the life that I so easily live every day.

CNN also did a feature on "Who Votes" and I was astounded that in mid-term elections only about 46% of us as Americans vote. We were behind Afghanistan...who even with their country being torn up by war has 49% of citizens voting.

As an African American, it has not been that long ago since my ancestors were disenfranchised...mocked, harassed, sometimes beaten, sometimes murdered and yet they kept coming, year after year to excercise their right to vote as a citizen of this great country. Flawed though we are as a country, hey...we are all in need of redemption, we can change things with our vote.

As a woman, I remember that it hasn't been that many years since women, even in this country, could not vote. And in this year, two thousand and twelve, there are still many people in this world that cannot exercise the choosing of those who would govern them.

So as an African American woman...I say WOW...I am grateful that I get that chance on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Just take a moment and remember those who came before that you might have that right. Honor them with your vote....no matter who you choose to vote for, exercise that right as a citizen.

It's great to have true friends

2010-10-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

For those who know me, you know that I'm not really into hair and makeup and all of that kind of stuff. It's just not my thing. Not that I don't like to dress up every now and then...it's just that I need some help most times to pull it all together.

So since I was trying to get ready for my first TV interview to promote my new book, "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God," I had already planned to go to the salon. My stylist did an awesome job, but that was on Thursday. All I had to do was maintain the hair do for one day.

Well, as has happened to me many times in the past, I just didn't even know where to begin when I got up. But I figured I would make it work somehow.

Fortunately, my stylist had also volunteered to do my makeup. When I showed up, I'm surprised my stylist didn't pass out in shock to see my do. But graciously, she whipped out her flat iron and fixed my curls right up. Then she did my makeup and had me looking like a STAR.

So what does this have to do with a WOW Moment. The fact that my stylist took 30 minutes to redo my hair and give me the best makeup job I'd ever had, while her two other clients waited patiently was a true blessing for me. The fact that my friend invested in me to help me put my best foot forward. WOW...It's great to have true friends.

Then I was off to the studio. The interview went well and I was grateful for the opportunity. Another friend helped put that in motion.

As I left the studio, I went over and over the interview in my mind. I should have said that. Why didn't I add this....so on and so forth.

But then I walked in the door, and saw the light on the answering machine blinking. A message of encouragement from a friend about the interview. Plus, a message on Facebook and an e-mail message. I needed that encouragement. I different perspective.

So my WOW Moment for today was an attitude of gratefulness for the wonderful, life-affirming, encouraging, uplifiting people in my life that I have the privilege of calling friends.

If you have those kind of friends, let them know what they mean to you and take the time to say a prayer and thank God for the friends He has placed in your life.

[Click HERE to see interview]

PHOTO CAPTION: My stylist, Tijuana, and me

Have you seen it? Part 3

2010-10-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is Part 3 of the blog series, "Have you seen it?" which refers to seeing God's meticulous and intimate involvement in our lives.

In all we face, even in pain, sorrow and grief, it is not separate from God's plan for us.

His perfect will is for us to comfort others as He has done for us. He does that with compassion, love, long-suffering, empathy, and friendship. Likewise, when we seem crippled by our grief, it is God's will that other Christians come along side those newly-grieved and comfort them. That is part of the process. God is preparing us to minister healing to those around us.

It is not His purpose or design that we would grieve just to go through the process. His purpose is always part of a larger picture--to encourage and build up those in like circumstances.

He will give you peace when there is chaos around you. He will comfort you when no human hands, hearts, or words can ease your pain. He will grieve with you when no one else can even remotely understand. He will give you strength when all you feel inside is utter hopelessness. He will bring you through when you don't feel you can take another step. He will show you His Word is ture, He cannot lie, He is faithful to who He is all the time.

He gave me two Scriptures that helped me understand what He was doing in my life. Genesis 22:14 says, "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." Second Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

God began to show me how much He loved me and truly had a plan. God in His infinite knowledge could see the past, present, and future. While I was grieving in the present, He already saw the good that would come from it.

Abraham named the place on Mount Moriah Jehovah-jireh after God provided the ram as a sacrifice instead of accepting the death of Abraham's son Isaac as God had commanded. Jireh comes from the Hebrew word translated to see or to provide. His seeing is also forseeing because nothing is hidden from God. He sees what was, what is, and what is to come. In His forseeing of our needs, He also makes allocations for our needs--His provision. In His character it would be unlike God to see a need and not provide for it. In essence His forseeing or prevision and His provision are the same thing. Since God has foreseen all that happens in our lives, all of our needs have been provided for, past, present, and future.

Regardless of your personal experience, God has gone before you to prepare the way. Even though we respond to personal tragedy in many different ways, God is still the same. For many Christians, the loss is made more difficult to handle because there is the ever-present question of if God is in control of the universe, if He knows everything, if He really loves me, then why did He let this happen to me. Whatever the hardship, it is human nature to wish to be spared from these circumstances. That is why I had to examine my trust in God.

I could rattle off charateristics of God like loving, trustworthy, holy, perfect, sinless, merciful, and gracious. But when it came to accepting those characteristics in spite of my situations, I had to go deeper than just knowing about God, I had to really get intimate, and get to know HIM.

In Corinthians, God reminded Paul that His grace was enough. That was all Paul needed--God's grace. God would provide everything else. It is in our weakest that we can fully realize and experience God's full power. We cannot truly see His provision until we have fully exhausted all human ability to address our situation.

At the precise time when we face our darkest moments, it is God who comforts and strengthens us. God never sends us where He has not led, nor leads us where His grace is not sufficient to keep us.

This blog is a revised excerpt from my book "Perfect in Weakness," Chapter 14 titled "Faith Lessons."

Have you seen it? Part 2

2010-10-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is Part 2 of the blog series, "Have you seen it?" which refers to seeing God's meticulous and intimate involvement in our lives.

What I want you to understand and truly get down in your Spirit is that the Creator of all things, loves you. He sees you. He hears you when you pray. He knows all about you. He is with you. He has already made provision for you. Isaiah 65:24 says, "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Get that! God saw your need before you even knew your need. But not only that, before you could even get it out of your mouth, He has already answered. WOW!

God is engaged with your life. He is vested in you. Not just as a chessmaster moving pawn pieces. But because He loves you so much. He looks for ways to bless you. He honors His covenant relationship with you and makes a way to redeem you. He justifies you by faith and calls you His own. He loves you dear one....YOU are His beloved one.

Get that today. God loves you. God has a plan for you. God's eye is watching you and His hand is upon you. God is with you.

He has gone further than you could ever imagine to bring you into His family. He will comfort. He will strengthen. He is all that you need. He is the I AM.

If you know Him, find comfort in these words today. If you don't know Him, then please seek Him. For He loves you just the same. And even when you do not seek Him, He still loves and pursues you. WOW! Even when we forsake Him, He will never forsake us.

Take time today to look for His fingerprint in your life. He is our Jehovah-jireh!

Look for Part 3.

Have you seen it? Part 1

2010-09-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

This is Part 1 of a blog series titled, "Have you seen it?" which refers to seeing God's meticulous and intimate involvment in our lives.

Recently, I attended the homegoing services of my friend's young son, Daniel. As I walked into the auditorium and saw the place packed out...mostly with young college-aged students, it broke my heart. A young man with so much promise, and now he was gone. And whether this young man in his early twenties or my father-in-law who had just celebrated his 80th birthday, it still felt too soon.

And then it was the thought of my friend, Donna. What could I say to her, when just the Sunday before we had stood in this same auditorium and encouraged one another. She especially encouraged my husband since the recent loss of his father as she recounted how the loss of her own mother not so long ago had greatly impacted her.

But there was Donna, standing on the front row, with hands raised in praise to our Heavenly Father. She leads by example.

As the service started, you could clearly see that this was truly going to be a celebration of Daniel's life as friends recounted stories of his life and shared words of encouragement. I was moved so many times, but speaker in particular caught my attention.

Also, a young man, Jeremy Shelby, he shared how he was in shock at the news of the sudden and tragic death of his friend. It was the young man's custom to read a devotional each night before going to bed. But this night his heart was so heavy, he had planned to skip it. However, in his moment of deepest sorrow, he cried out to God to give him a Word that would help him to lift his head up. He was led to read his devotional anyway.

When he opened the lesson, he discovered that the devotional was titled, "Much Beloved" and was taken from the Book of Daniel. NOW...hold up. STOP!! Did you catch that. His friend Daniel was just tragically killed and when he asked the Lord for strength, his devotional reading for the night was taken from the Book of Daniel. But not just any passage in Daniel, but from Chapter 9. Verses 21-23 says, "while I was in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed." If that is not a WOW Moment...I don't know what is!!!!

But if that wasn't enough, the young man went on to read the rest of the devotional which was an encouragement to Daniel while in exile.

But here is the truly amazing thing to me--it is the extraordinary strides that God will go through to minister to His children, to provide for us. He makes plans long before we know what we need, He has already taken care of the details....every little thing. He loves us that much and He is always working on our behalf to ensure that His will is accomplished. God has done it before in my own life, but let me lay it out for you in case you missed it.

1. The young man was in the habit of reading a devotional each night. If you've ever been to a Christian bookstore than you know that devotionals of all kinds are available in multitudes. So first it was his habit, and also, he had previously chosen this particular devotional.

2. Now, if you know even a little bit about publishing....then you know that these kinds of things are put together months and months in advance. So that means...a) an editor had to make that assignment b) the writer had to choose that particular passage and decide to write the particular devotional c) the designer had to place that particular devotional on that particular page in the book that it might be in the right place for Jeremy to read on Sept. 16.

All of this was accomplished by God months in advance so that when his son cried out in pain, "Father God...give me a Word that will help me lift my head" the Word was ready to encourage His son. And then His son was chosen to speak on Daniel's program that he might comfort others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

But I wonder today, Have you seen it? Have you seen God's provision in your life? Have you witnessed the tender love and care He has for His own? It is a powerful thing to behold that the Creator of the universe loves you personnally. He hears your prayers and He will answer.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Too much for one blog...so you'll have to catch Part 2 later this week.

PHOTO CAPTION: My friend Donna Covington and her son Daniel.

RELENTLESS

2010-09-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a notice to all the ladies...if you're looking for the perfect man, you might as well give up....I've already got him.

Now you guys out there may be wondering how my husband got such a high rating on the "Perfect Man" scale this week...I'm more than happy to share it with everybody....it's one word....RELENTLESS.

My husband and I have been attending a class at church called "Marriage Matters." In one of the first classes we attended the facilitator reminded us that we need to be relentless in pursuing our mate. In one example, he specifically challenged the guys to remember all the things they had done to win their mate.

Sebastian and I just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. On my desk is a framed copy of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Just a week or so after we started dating, as I was leaving for work at about 7 in the morning, I found this paper on the windshield of my car. If you look closely, you can see the faded handwriting which says, "I love you Tina more than you can possibly imagine" and the date of Sept. 9, 1991. Just shy of a year later on Sept. 5, 1992, we were married.

In those early months of dating and even early years of marriage, I was surprised many times with handwritten notes of love or beautifully written cards. Not so much now, at least not generally in a spontaneous way. Well, the relentless reminder was all my husband needed.

About a week after the class, I backed into someone's car while dropping the boys off at football practice. Didn't do a lot of damage, but I was sure our insurance premium would go up.

I didn't know how to tell my husband, but to just come out with it. If you know my husband, and you've ever seen him really mad, then you can surely visualize how he rolled his eyes and threw his hands up and shook his head at my news. I ancitipated lots of shouting, questions, general angriness. But not this time.

He didn't even say anything, but just walked out the house and drove away. Now you may be wondering what kind of twisted story am I recounting here....just....wait...for it.......

He returned several hours later, but didn't even mention the accident or our earlier conversation. I figured I'd better practice wisdom and silence and not mention it either.

The next morning when I went out to take the kids to school, I found a card with my name on it, sitting on the steering wheel of my car.

I opened it and in part it read, "Have I mentioned lately that I love you? Do you know how many times during the day I think of you?" So you can about imagine that I was already crying. And then I opened the card, and I saw his familiar handwriting on the side...and it started...."What do you say when saying I love you seems too small and inadequate? How do you show someone how much you love them when just being with them makes you feel loved?"

Well..I could scarcely drive home fast enough to catch him before he left for work. All I could do was run and fling my arms around his neck, and kiss him with passion and say, "Thank you. I really needed that."

I didn't expect it. And could argue that I didn't even deserve it. But isn't that like God to show us a picture of His love for us through the model of marriage.

So yes...I have the Perfect Man. Marriage is a lot of work. But you have to be RELENTLESS--both husbands and wives. Marriage IS putting the needs of someone else above your own. It is SACRIFICE. Love is NOT a feeling. LOVE is a COMMITMENT!

WOW. I am grateful to have my best friend to share my life with.

Do you still stand in AWE of Him?

2010-09-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

I attended a training on Saturday, that was totally AWESOME! And if you don't like that word, you're in bad shape...because I absolutely LOVE the word. The training was facilitated by Aaron Reynolds, author of "The Fabulous Revinvention of Sunday School." If you've never heard of him and you have a heart to minister to kids...find out who he is.

But it really wasn't about who he is, but what he reminded me of....my "take away" if you will from the training. Now...don't get me wrong, I've already told you that the training was what....you got it, totally AWESOME! I learned so much about storytelling and presentation that I'm trusting to transform my teaching the next time I'm in front of a group whether kids or adults.

But here is where he got me...straight in the heart. As he told the first story of the paralyptic whose friends lowered him through the roof of someone's house, so his life could be changed by Jesus. Do you have friends like that? Friends that will go to any lengths to introduce you to the Savior. WOW! But even deeper than that, are you that kind of friend? Are you willing to go through any lengths to introduce your friends to the Messiah.

Okay...but get this...that was deep...and really God just gave that to me as I was writing...but here's where I was blown away....when Aaron finished telling the story, he challenged us to be awed by God and His Word. I couldn't help but cry. I was moved. It was as if I had heard the story for the first time and then to cap it off, I was awestruck by how amazing our God is. And then Aaron reminded us that we should be blown away because the Bible is telling real stories of real people.

WOW! Stop for a moment and take that in. Have we read the story of David and Goliath so many times that we have forgotten that on a battlefield years ago, a young boy believed God so much that he went into battle to face a giant of a man with nothing more than a sling shot and his faith? When is the last time you read the story of the disciples in the story and failed to be as amazed as they were? Mark 4:41 says, "The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey Him!""

Are you still awed by the Word of God? Does it still move you to tears when you read it? Or touch your heart? Or feel you with overwhelming gratitude or peace? Do you still get it...that the Creator wrote a personal love letter to YOU?

Don't let His Word become so mundane, so routine that it ceases to speak to your heart! Do you still stand in AWE of Him? I can't answer that question for you, but I hope you will spend some time today to answer that question for yourself.

God bless!!

Give Yourself Away

2010-09-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

I get the privilege each week to serve at the Lexington Rescue Mission. Nothing major...but helping in a small way for just an hour each week. And I wonder, what kind of impact we, as followers of Christ, could have on the world, if we each gave a little bit of our time each week to a cause we believe in.

Sometimes God calls us to do something really big, but I believe most of the time, He just wants to use us right where we are in every day, ordinary ways to say, "Hey...God loves you!"

Isn't that in part what we take away from 2 Corinthians 5:20? It says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." WOW! You wouldn't believe what a WOW moment that was just now for me. Just reading that Scripture brought tears to my eyes.

Can you really grasp that today? We are HIS AMBASSADORS!! Not doing what we want to do, but doing what HE has sent us here to do. The part of the Scripture that stabs me in the heart is "as though GOD were making His appeal through us." Stop right there and really let that sink in. Do you live your life every day as if God Himself were making an appeal through you?

God WANTS YOU! He's interested in people. Each one of us have been gifted and called for a purpose and put here on this earth, at this time, in this place, to make a difference for the kingdom...to represent Him...and that means caring about the things He cares about. He cares about people! How are you going to live that this week?

When I'm at the Rescue Mission, sometimes I help fix trays, sometimes I pass out trays in the dining area, and even sometimes I end up at the sink washing dishes. I cannot tell you the joy I feel by helping someone in need. You know that saying, "it's better to give than to receive," it's not just talking about money. If you've never done it, I think you will be amazed at how blessed you feel when you take the time to give a little of yourself.

I love music so I'll end with lyrics from a song by NewSong, "Give yourself away, Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Give yourself away, Go out and make a world of difference. Let this be the day you see how far His love reaches. The greatest sacrifice of all is to give yourself away."

If you want to join me some time, stop by the Lexington Rescue Mission, 444 Glen Arvin Ave. They serve lunch every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. Just one hour of your time. So how about it? I challenge you this week to give yourself away.

For more information on how to help the Lexington Rescue Mission, visit http://lexingtonrescue.org/index.html

Skip the Apple a Day

2010-08-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a conversation that you knew absolutely was a God-thing? I have, and most recently it was with my doctor.

Amid talk of cholesterol numbers (mine are excellent) and body mass index (need to work on that), my doctor and I started talking about God's faithfulness in our lives.

We have both been through some very dark times in our lives, but we shared a common faith. As we sat there surrounded by the exam table, cotton swabs, old magazines, we opened up about our inability to pray, our anger at God, our yearning to find peace and healing.

As sisters in Christ, we encouraged one another and testified of seeing God's divine plan come to fulfillment in our lives. We marveled at the lessons we learned and the strenghth brought to our faith, after going through a time in life when God was truly the only place to turn.

If you are going through, know that God sees you, that He hears your cries, that He sees your tears, that He feels your pain. More importantly, He is with you. Ask Him to give you peace, to feel His presence, to know His will. You will make it. As desperate as you feel, there is hope.

After quite some time, we realized that she had other patients to see. We connected. It was a WOW moment.

I'm glad I had to see my doctor that day. She blessed me, and I hope our encounter encouraged her as well. God does that. He arranges these routine things in our lives that turn into extraordinary acts of God's intervention...reminders that He loves us, and our hearts are knit together as His children.

So don't skip out on your doctor, not just for your physical well being, but for your spiritual health as well. There may be a blessing there for you.

An Enemy Like Me

2010-08-20T23:03:00.001-07:00

I can't tell you how many times I have sang the song, "I am a friend of God." But there is an opposite of that too. At one time, I was His enemy. It wasn't that I just had not received Christ, or that I was choosing to make my own life choices, I was actually His enemy. Colossians 1:21 says, "This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions." Whoa....that was deep. I read that in a Bible Study last week, and it floored me.

I remembered the time before giving my life to Jesus when I really DID do my own thing. I wasn't concerned with God's will for my life, and I certainly didn't understand grace or the sacrifice He had made by sending His Son to die for me.

And if you think back in your life to that time, you will have to come to the same conclusions I did. Because we all must see the truth of that Scripture. None of us were born Christians. We all have that time in our lives that we were enemies of God...diametrically opposed to His will.

Enemy is defined as "one who is antagonistic to another," "an adversary," "a hostile force." I know, it's hard to think of yourself that way. But that's who we were before Christ....lost, in darkness, unable to save ourselves, helpless.

But then God's grace steps in and through Him we are taken from death to life. His grace is sufficient and I thank Him everyday for it, for giving me what I truly do not deserve.

I have peace and joy in my life. I know that I was created with a purpose and that my life is precious to God. I know that God has a plan for me and for each of us. I am not an accident and neither are you. We were not born, just to live and then die...and go into non-existence. God has you on this planet, in this place, space, and time...for such a moment as this. What are you going to do with it?

You are dearly loved. God has a plan for you. So my WOW moment for today is "WOW, God!! I can't believe you chose me. You loved me even when I was your enemy. And you have given my life more meaning that I ever thought possible."

My response to that love. Show me your will Lord. Help me in this day to live a life that pleases you.

What's your response?

[PHOTO CAPTION] Yep...that was me. Some years ago (smile). Believe it or not, I think I was about 18 in this photo.

Happens in a BLINK

2010-08-12T20:32:00.001-07:00

My father-in-law passed away earlier this week and it has been a surreal experience. I truly understand that it will not really hit me until I walk into the house tomorrow night and I'm not met with his warm hug and infectious smile.

The last time we saw him our whole family was together celebrating his 80th birthday. And when I talked to my mother-in-law, she just said, "It was too soon."

Even 80 years of living is still not enough, it goes by so quickly. The Christian group, Revive, has a song called "Blink." It simply says, "It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash, it happens in the time it took to look back. I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time. What is it I've done with my life? It happens in a blink."

Homer Bryson Jr. lived his life. He traveled to places like Australia, Alaska, and the Holy Land. He wasn't afraid to experience new things, to live his dreams. And along the way, he blessed as many people as he could.

Life is short. Don't live it looking back with regrets. You can't get back yesterday. And tomorrow may never come. So you have just this moment, in the present, right now. You have today. What AWESOME thing are you going to do today?!? Because even a small awesome thing is still a WOW kind of thing.

Don't live even one more moment despairing over the past. Confess your faults and failures to God, and rest in His peace. Don't waste another second hoping that tomorrow will be the day. Today is THE day and it is a very precious gift from God. Don't waste it. This is what you have...just today, 24 hours.

Allow God to use you today to do something truly like HIM. Are you ready? Then.....GO!!!

[PHOTO CAPTION] Three Generations of Bryson Men--Homer Bryson Jr., his firstborn grandson, Ellis Bryson, and his oldest son, L. Sebastian Bryson smile for the camera after Dad's 80th birthday celebration in Rome, GA.

Let's Get Real

2010-07-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

I was reminded this week of how many folks truly go through the motions in their relationship with God. They are content to go to church on Sunday, say all of the right Christian phrases, even read their Bible from time to time on their own...maybe. But they miss the most important thing--having and developing a relationship with God that is authentic, that is truly real and life transforming.

I believe that most folks on the outside looking in are turned off by our very lives as Christians. They are looking for authentic relationships, people living lives that have truly been transformed by the message of the Gospel.

What would it look like if all of us who have trusted in Christ as Savior would no longer be satisfied to just look like a Christian on the outside...going to church, saying "to God be the Glory," and carrying our Bible?

What would it look like if we actually believed and lived like the body of Christ....not the church, the building where we gather on Sunday, but the hands and feet of Christ? What would our communities and our nation look like if we didn't just say "to God be the Glory" but that in our relationship with Him, we lived a transformed life that was a living testimony to His redemption power in our lives...and that through our lives we really gave Him the glory. What would our families, marriages, neighborhoods, and churches look like if we didn't just carry our Bible, but each day we worked to read it, study it, understand it, and most importantly live it so that the truth of God's word would change us from the inside out.

I'm no longer content to just go through the motions. Are you? If you are not already living a life sold out to Christ, what will it take? What will motivate you to step out and do something radical for Christ, to turn your world upside down with a life lived in a way that only God can achieve, to trust Him to truly make you into His image. Are you ready? I am! Let's get real!!!

God is up to something

2010-07-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

Some weeks ago I read a Facebook post that simply said, "I don't know who this is for but God said, "Be still but be ready." It spoke to me immediately.

If you've ever struggled with God...then you know what it is to realize that the struggle really isn't even with God, the struggle is with yourself. We know what God has called us to do, but we might be afraid, uncomfortable, or just not want to follow. And therein lies the conflict and thus our flesh (what we want to do) collides with the Spirit (what God is directing us to do).

Several months ago I made a very big decision. I had no idea of what God was doing, but I had peace. Later, I began to doubt and second-guess, and wanted to go back. But I kept hearing God say, "Be still." So in obedience, I was still.

Then came the post, and I felt Him saying, "Daughter, I'm up to something. I am moving. I am work" And in those words, "Be still, but be ready," I heard my Father's voice. Yet the internal struggle continued. Then God spoke to be me through a children's book, reminding me of the story of Lot's wife...I was fortitified. "Don't look back!"

Friday, God gave me a glimpse of what He's up to. I met a phenomonel woman of God, who has such a passion for children...the same heart for God that I have when it comes to people. She has such a beautiful spirit, and lives her life to please God.

In meeting her, I understood. My heart rejoiced to see His plan unfolding, to see the confirmation of what He had said to me almost a year ago. If God is telling you to "be still," be obedient. He's up to something.

Happy Meal Smiles

2010-07-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Do you know those kinds of smiles your kids get when you tell them you're stopping by McDonald's for lunch? No matter how else the day has gone...they just break out in this large grin. I'm still not sure if it's the french fries, the chicken nuggets, or the new toy...but you can't beat that look.

I had the same look last week when a new friend stopped by my book table at the Children's Ministry Expo, held at the Lexington Center July 15-16, 2010. As she walked slowly, but deliberately toward me, I knew I recognized her...but couldn't quite placed the face. Then as she got closer, and reminded me of our encounter in St. Louis....my face broke out in that Happy Meal smile as the recognitions set in. We grabbed hands, hugged, and started jumping up and down like typical high school girls....(I guess you never really grow out of it).

It was just the total incredibleness of the moment. You see Barbara and I had just met about two weeks prior when I attended the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis. Again, another event promoting "10 Things Every Kid Should Know About God." We me while standing in line to get a free copy of a book. Along with Karen, a filmmaker, we also met in line, we talked and talked as if we had known each other for a life time.

It was truly a WOW moment. I was soaking it all in as they talked about their kids and more importantly how they affirm their children every day. That is something I struggle with, but I was amazed by these women. And I truly felt when I walked away that it was God-ordained. That He was speaking to me through them...reminding me of the power of words and the impact they can have in our lives and the lives of our children and those around us.

I took that message back home and was already beginning to implement some of things that they said in the conversation. Now...don't get me wrong, they were not "instructing" me...we were just three women standing in line talking about our families, why we were at the show, and how amazing that the line was moving so fast. We did stand in line for 30 minutes. But by daughter loved the book.

That is just how God works. He gives us divine encounters....we just have to recognize them. So when I ran into Barbara just two weeks later...WOW God!! He is truly amazing.

I look forward to our friendship....and in anticipation to see what God is up to! He doesn't do anything by happenstance, consequence, or by the way...I'm in for the ride.

Think about your life this week. Has God given you a divine encounter? Did you recognize it? Are you in for the ride?

I hope so.

P.S.

see Barbara's website at http://www.adnamis.org/,

see Karen's site at http://www.breathemotionpictures.com/