Reasons to Celebrate

Reasons to Celebrate

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We celebrated my pastor for giving 33 years in service to our church today. Everyone in the room could feel the excitement. 

He invited a guest preacher to speak, and you could tell that he had a lot of respect for this man of God. Past preachers, musicians, family, and friends all came to help him celebrate. Even our ministry partners from George, South Africa were there. It was a joyous occasion.  

It made me think about my life, and the things that I sometimes celebrate. 

My husband, and I made it a point to do something to acknowledge our anniversary every year. Sometimes, it was dinner with friends. Mostly though, it was just the two of us being grateful for one more year. I also made my birthday my own personal holiday every year. I take off from work, and do whatever I want for the whole day (I really look forward to it every year). 

But short of waking up every morning, that is pretty much it. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t take that for granted, I just think there should be more to life than just waking up, right?

As I contemplated celebrations, those things seemed to pale in comparison to celebrating 33 years in ministry. Then I realized what I was doing. Why was I comparing my life to someone else’s? Why did I think that what my pastor had done was so much better than anything I had done?

God had to remind me what Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” He helped me see that life itself is reason enough to celebrate. Every day is reason enough to celebrate. Every breath is reason enough to celebrate. And waking up is a big deal, and it should be celebrated. 

So, I learned my lesson. From now on, I won’t look at others as my benchmark for reasons to celebrate. I will keep my eyes fixed firmly on the Lord, Jesus Christ who gives me life. He is the real reason any of us have to celebrate anyway.

Until next time…

Be blessed

The Things That Make Memories

The Things That Make Memories

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Today was a good day. I believe my pastor could have definitely been a comedian if he hadn’t been called to ministry. I love the way he can find humor in ordinary things. 

He likes reminiscing about what it was like growing up. I love it too, because the stories he tells are so relatable.

I remember sharing onion pickles, Chico sticks, and candy straws with my friends. I remember playing dodge ball, hot butter beans hula hoops, and jacks until the lights came on. I remember my parents taking us to the park at Easter for our annual Easter egg hunt, and actually losing half of the eggs they hid. 

I love hearing those stories. I love that they make me laugh until my stomach hurt. And that every time he tells those stories…it feels like home.

The older I get the more I appreciate my childhood. The friendships, the neighborhood, and even the school I went to. It makes me feel for the children today. The ones that don’t know what it’s like to be free. That don’t know what it’s like to play outside all day, or to get in trouble for eating grapes from the neighbor’s tree. To come home to the smell of dinner cooking, or to homemade cakes, and apple pies. 

I pray for a world that learns to enjoy that again. To know what it’s like to enjoy the small things we sometimes overlook. 

Things like taking time to feel the sunshine on a warm summer’s day, or to catch snowflakes on your tongue in winter, or to lie on the grass looking up at the stars at night. Things that don’t cost anything, but mean everything.

The things that make memories.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Go Ahead And Take A Nap

Go Ahead And Take A Nap

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I came home with the intention of getting some reading done today. The next thing I know…I was waking up. How in the world did that happen??? I just sat down for a few minutes. 

Ughhhhh…getting old is no joke! I always say that it is not for the faint of heart.

Let me tell you, at first I was a little concerned. I mean, I never took naps. I didn’t need them. I could stay up all night, go to work, come home and do it all over again. Of course, I was twentysomething then. That, in itself explains a lot…lol. I could do a lot then that I can’t do now.

The thing is…I don’t think I would change anything. I don’t want to go back in time, and do it all again. I love the age that I am. I worked hard to get here. 

Maybe I could use a little fine tuning. Be a little kinder to myself. Go to sleep on time, eat a better diet, drink more water, eat less junk food, and stop stressing about stuff. 

Come to think of it, that’s good advice for any age.

God gives us the opportunity to self-correct. He really is the God of second chances. He loves us so much, and always wants the best for us. He wants us to live our best lives. Of course, that means different things to different people, 

To me, it means living a life that is totally sold out to Him. Knowing that there is no material thing that can give me what He can.Things like peace, joy, love, faith, hope…all come from living a life that is based on pleasing Him, and I always want to please Him.

Our bodies are not meant to last forever, but our souls are. And that’s the most important part, right? Prayerfully, we will all get to be super heroes (that’s what I call seniors) one day. I love knowing that no matter what age we are, when we give our lives to the Lord, Jesus Christ, we never die…we just get eternal life with Him. Thank You, Lord!

So, maybe our bodies don’t cooperate the way they used to. That’s ok. Just keep trusting God, enjoying the journey, and taking a good nap every now and then.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Measure of Faith

Measure of Faith

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Ok. So, today I want to talk about faith just a little bit. I think most of us have some level of faith. Even if it’s only the size of a mustard seed, right? I mean, the Bible says that “if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can tell the mountain to move from here to there, and it will.” (Matthew 17:20) 

Does that mean the actual mountain will move? Probably not. But it does mean that when we put our faith in God’s hands, great and seemingly impossible things can happen.

I wanted to post about faith today because I needed to talk it through for myself. To understand that even my doubt means maybe it’s possible. I needed to know that God will supernaturally multiply my faith when I give it to Him. 

The problem with many of us is that we believe having faith means we never have doubts about what God is doing. That definitely is not the case. God had to show the people in the Bible what they were capable of. That’s the same thing He does with us.

God will sometimes allow us to be in situations that test our faith, because He needs us to know that what is impossible with man is possible in Him. 

Our faith has to be tested. We won’t know what real faith looks like until we put it in the hands of the Master. He takes our little scrawny faith, and makes it something so powerful that it can move mountains. 

But that can only happen when we surrender it to Him. And because we put our faith in Him, He puts His Holy Ghost power in us. How amazing is that?

Until next time…

Be blessed

Celebrating Our Risen Savior!

Celebrating Our Risen Savior!

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Today is the day many Christians celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Risen Savior! It is the day that Jesus forever defeated death, and because of what He did, we get to live in eternity with Him. 

The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What a gift!

[I know everyone doesn’t believe that, but on this blog, we do.] 

For me, this is an awesome opportunity to show God how much we appreciate Him. Here’s the amazing thing…He didn’t just do it for those who loved Him, He did it for those who may never receive Him as Lord and Savior. That’s the kind of God we serve.

And although we could never repay Him for what He did–we can honor Him for what He continues to do.

He continues to show up. He continues to make a way. He continues to be our Provider. Our Healer. Our Redeemer, and our King. 

So, today God we honor You with the praise of our lips not for what You have done, but for who You are.

Hallelujah! Thank You, LORD!

Until next time!

Be blessed

We Have The Victory!

We Have The Victory!

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Every year at this time, I get this restlessness that makes me feel out of sync. Last week I wrote about it without realizing the real reason for it. I knew I didn’t feel myself, but I didn’t connect the dots until today. This season is a milestone that I wish I didn’t have to experience.  

Yesterday would have been my best friend’s birthday. He passed away five years ago. Actually, he passed away exactly two weeks after his birthday. I went from planning his birthday to planning his funeral. I can’t even explain the range of emotions I felt during that time. I always thought that time heals all wounds…it doesn’t. 

But I know that God does.

Psalm 18:2 it says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  When we can’t do anything else, we can trust in God. The Bible says that He is the lifter of our heads. He is the One who sustains us when we feel weak. The One who walks beside us, while at the same time going before us, and coming up behind us. Only God could do that.

God has been so good to us…so gracious to us. And because of what Jesus did on the cross, He no longer counts our sins against us. When we give our lives to the Lord, Jesus Christ, the Bible says that we are sealed into the family of God, and nothing can come against us and win. Not even grief. We have the victory!

Even though this is a hard time for me, I know I have the victory, and I am learning about the love of God in a way that I wouldn’t have any other way. With God’s help, I know I will continue to make it through. And, not only will I make it through…but, I will bring others through with me. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

Seasons of Waiting

Seasons of Waiting

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Church was good. The message was good. Overall, the day was good. So, why do I feel like something is missing? Like I have been just going through the motions today.

I think this is my season of waiting. Spring is coming, and I seem to always go through this period (season) of transition during this time. I know it. I expect it. And it still feels like it’s catching my spirit off guard. I know that God is good, and I know that He knows exactly what He is doing. I don’t question that. 

What I question though is why I can’t seem to embrace these seasons. 

Why does it take me so long to get it? I know that growing takes time. I know that as I go through these seasons, God is growing me in the direction that He wants me to go. Yet, I am still so frustrated with the process.

The good thing is that God knows that, and He has even made provisions for it. `

He knows that even though I don’t like it, that I get frustrated, that everything seems magnified during these times…I will still serve Him. I will still show up. I will still look for ways to be a blessing, because I love Him, and I know in my heart that this too shall pass. 

God’s word in Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I trust that word. I stand on that word. I believe God honors that word. I just have to keep honoring mine…even in these seasons of transition.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Open Doors

Open Doors

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Well, God did not disappoint this week. Actually, He never does. We just keep trying to do things our own way.

That part.

One of my friends has a radio show, and she invited me to do a couple of segments. I was so excited. I started putting together topics, and lining up a few women to be on the show with me. Then, I remembered that God had put it in my spirit a long time ago to start a podcast…and I never did.

I believe this is my second chance.

I was so happy about the open door that I never even asked God if He was the one opening it for me. Then, I heard a preacher say that sometimes God will open a door…not for you to go through, but for some people to go out. That was so good. I had never thought about that before.

Ughhhh…then I started wondering if this was some kind of test. I know that God wants to take me to a higher level in Him, and that I have been stuck on my current level way too long. I had pretty much convinced myself that it was good here; that I actually liked being here. Then, this happens.

I believe God is reminding me that it’s not too late. Maybe He is saying that open doors are open opportunities to trust Him more. And sometimes He wants us to do the hard thing knowing that He will be there with us every step of the way. That we can’t mess up because His word says that even then, He will work things out for our good.

Trusting Him even when we’re unsure…knowing that He never is.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Our Dreams Are For A Lifetime

Our Dreams Are For A Lifetime

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I’m not sure why, but today my dreams seem so close. I feel like if I speak them out loud, maybe it will give them life again.

So. here goes…

My dream has always been to not have a schedule. To be free to write books, travel, and do it full-time without worrying about my income or how I’m going to pay my bills. I want to teach others what I learn about writing so that they can pursue their dreams too. That has been my dream for as long as I can remember. 

But this is what I know…our dreams are for a lifetime.

I don’t want fear to keep me from pursuing what I love to do, and I really believe that writing is not only my calling…it’s my ministry. The thing is, I also don’t want to run ahead of God. I did that once, and it cost me big time. 

My problem is that I’m really tired of talking about it, and planning about it. I’m ready to just do something about it. 

Although waiting has never been my strongest trait, I have learned that working with God is a lot easier than working against Him. So, for now I will be in prayer about my next steps. I will spend more time reading His word, and listening for His voice. I will look for opportunities to grow my skills, and use my quiet time to actually be quiet (That’s another tough one for me).

I’ll let you know how it’s going in my next post. 🙂

Until next time…

Be blessed

I’ll See You On The Other Side

I’ll See You On The Other Side

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My heart is a little heavy today…

Yesterday, one of my best buddies gained her wings. The good thing is that her transition was easy. The bad thing is that I won’t see her again on this side…

So if it’s okay, I want to take a few moments to honor her.

We became friends through my brother. They divorced a long time ago, but we didn’t…lol. I think it’s so unfortunate that when divorce happens to a couple, the relatives have to divorce too. I understand that in some cases it just makes sense. And I wouldn’t expect that they would be at every family function. But when there was no physical or mental abuse, we should be able to spend time together without anyone having issues with it. That was the case with us.

When I first met her, I thought she was fearless, and fancy. She wore eye shadow, and her clothes were always stylish, and well put together. She had this way about her like she was in charge even when she wasn’t. 

She was the first person to take me to a sit-down restaurant. She taught me which fork to use, how to put my napkin on my lap, and to never pick at my food. She took me to the Ice capades, circus, and gave me my first perm (my mother was heated about that one). 

We enjoyed hanging out. We loved going to lunch or dinner, and sometimes just simply watching television together. We talked about everything…and everybody…lol. 

She was one of those people that loved having people around, and I loved being around her. When she introduced me, she always said that I was her sister-in-law, but that we were more like sisters. I loved that. She was my sister, and I will miss her dearly…I will even miss her unsolicited advice. 🙂

I know that one day, we will meet again on the other side. Until then, I pray that I live every day with more love, more faith, and more hope. I pray that I do everything God has purposed for me to do. And I pray that I make someone else’s life as special as she made mine.

Until next time…

Be blessed