Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect

What kind of dolls did you have when you were a child? I have my eyeball looking in my time tunnel and I see little glowing faces under the Christmas tree of Shirley Temple, Chatty Cathy, and Barbie standing in front of her dream house with Ken on the driveway positioned in their pink convertible. I’ve had dolls that talked, walked, cried, grew hair, took a bottle then wet her diaper. For hours I practiced on being a good mommy. Bet you did too.

What I didn’t anticipate was colic, high fever, ear infections, asthma, viruses, and a child that would one day stand up to me and say, “No”. Chatty Cathy only said things like, “Hi, my name is Cathy. What’s yours? Would you like to be my friend?”

My usual prenatal comment in restaurants would be, “My child will never act like that.” Listening to a screaming child who was throwing food was more than I could hack. “How dare those parents allow their children to behave so uncivilized. Do they think they’re the only ones here?”

Not long after those comments I sat in a Chinese restaurant with two babies in highchairs throwing fried rice in my hair. Lesson number one in parenthood—get rid of the word never. I tossed all my parental books and ran to the Lord with the realization there were no pat answers for the uniqueness of His creation; except for His very own words.

Kellie and Kyle were 17 months apart and one look at them was all it took for me to fall in love. Life has never (never in this context is acceptable) been the same since. Chucks of my heart were given as I placed my lips on their soft baby skin. Instantly I decided to give them my life should it ever become necessary; for them to live was more important than me to do so.

It is humbling to think God feels the same about us as He did give His life, His Son-Jesus, to show how deep His love is for us.

“Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

Thank God for being your Abba, Daddy God today. He fell in love with you way before your parents did.

More Often

Have you made a list of resolutions for 2011? If you’re like me…you’ve been struggling with where to start or whether to even bother. Often we’ve made our list only to face defeat, but what is wrong with setting some goals? Nothing. The problem comes when you set unrealistic goals. Yes, I want to lose a few pounds, but more importantly I want to get healthy…so, here are my resolutions for the coming year.

I want to eat more often. You heard right! Every year I’ve wanted to eat more yet I deprived myself to less than a thousand calories per day and set a goal for jogging more than I even did in high school. Come on—let’s get real. If I didn’t run a marathon when I was in my early 20’s why would I ever expect to take on such a goal as a grandmother?

So, back to my resolutions, I want to eat six small meals a day. That is three meals with three snacks. Portion control, of course, but I also want to drink water more often. I want to allow God’s Word to soak in my heart more often and I want to sit still and listen to Him speak more often. Is that so bad? Where did we get the idea that being still and listening is passive and not active? I don’t know…I just know that we just don’t make the time to include God into our lives. Can you imagine a new year, with all the new challenges to come, if we made the Lord the Lord of them all? I’m ready for a different year…how about you?

God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Does it sink in that when you are still enough to hear God that the entire world could change? All it takes is one who causes a ripple effect.

Next week I will be shifting back to the question of transformation; is it painful or easy, and soon I will ask you to share your testimony as well. Be ready!

Can You Believe It?

Honestly, how many times in the month of December did you say, “Can you believe its Christmas already? Didn’t we just have one?” Please tell me at least once so I don’t feel so alone.

Today the question changes, “How was your Christmas?” Let’s see…where do I start? How much do you really want to know? Too much information can be…well, too much. I usually sigh, assess where I am, look for ease droppers, and share these profound words, “Great! How ‘bout yours?”

But, whatever your answer may be there is another date to now consider—New Year’s Day; believe it or not.

So, with that in mind, after living this year through some life-altering events, I would like to share some other things I chose to believe in the New Year to come.

I believe Jesus can do all things through me; can move the mountains in my heart; can heal my brokenness; can replace what has been taken; can help me see something bigger; can love others through me; can counsel me when I need direction; can fill me until I reach my limit; can be my friend when I don’t feel like anyone really cares; can teach me in ways I never dreamed of; can set me free from past failures, can restore my joy, and…can love me like no other.

I agreed with the Lord two years ago to learn to love supernaturally but had no idea how far He would take me up on that offer. I sometimes wonder what got in to me to make such a deal. I’ve been playing tug-of-war ever since and yearning for the comfort on my protective cocoon and just love those I feel safe with. But God has made it clear, “No, my daughter, you will learn to soar.” That’s how much He loves me.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31

What will you chose to do between this past Christmas and next? It will be here before you know it.

The Treasured Gift

Nothing warms the heart more than to see the excitement in a child’s eyes at Christmas. Children will be honest with their reactions of joy or tears when sitting on Santa’s lap. They learn early on what Christmas is about and what it means to celebrate the 25^th of December.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

We forget that children are a gift and are not to be taken for granted. From the second they take their first breath, like it or not, we become their teachers. Most of what they will learn comes from watching what their parents do.

I’ll be the first to admit my guilt with life lessons towards a greater anticipation of a visit from Santa rather than a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus whose gift of earthly life changed the entire world—for all time.

Can you remember every toy you received as a child? I remember a couple of dolls but have no idea where they are today. Toys are here today and gone tomorrow but the gift of eternal life is here today and will be with us tomorrow.

My children transformed the way I look at Christmas because anything I buy them would never compare to the life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. He’s more than a baby in a manager; He is God incarnate. Think of your own children, or children you know…could you give them away to die a horrible death to make a way for eternal life?

Three years ago the Lord opened the door to my daughter’s eternal home and just this past summer He did the same for my mother. No doubt Kellie knows how Heaven feels about Christmas. I’m sure she’s ready to show her grandmother how Heaven celebrates! The lasting gift of Jesus made it possible for them to be with God; not toys under the tree.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Give the gift of Jesus because one day…it will be the only remembered treasured gift.

Merry Christ-mas!

Winging It in a Digging Way!

My heart fluttered like Neil Armstrong bouncing around in moon dust the day after I reconciled with Jesus. I seemed to be weightless even though human eyes would say otherwise. I inhaled pure oxygen and walked with great purpose. One small surrender…one giant leap into freedom.

My finger selected Christian music on the radio as I opened my Bible to the Book of Psalm. The words of the songs and Bible actually made sense to me! The day after my decision was the first day of a new found passion as I could not get enough of God. I soared with new spiritual wings and...I  was digging it!

Within a month I, too, was on the Lay Renewal team sharing my testimony at other churches in Texas and as you well know…word travels fast as The Houston Christian Women’s Club asked me to become a speaker for their club. I traveled from Lake Jackson to Anahuac and everywhere else in between. (Know where Anahuac is? I do!) I soon found out I was not as alone as the enemy told me I was. Many I shared with gave their hearts to Jesus too. One of the greatest highlights of my life.

In my own church I became the Mother’s Day Out Director as I directed over 30 teachers and 100 children. Amazing how I lasted five years in that same position but loved every minute of it. Had the opportunity to work with children, teachers, and parents.

And if all those blessings weren’t enough…the Lord gave me an open door to teach high school girl’s Sunday School. Again, thought I’d get my feet wet and ended up staying in water up to my chin for the next 15 years. God sweetly surrounded me with young ladies I could learn alongside with since I had skipped out of church when I was a teenager.

In Joel 2:22-23 the Lord promises, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts…it was I who sent this great destroying army against you…once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you…”

Give God praise today for giving you all the food you want…and more.

Was Had But Now Healed

I ran out of the choir room in search for the girl who just shared her testimony. She was part of the team who came from surrounding areas of Houston. I had never laid eyes on her before but now I considered her my best friend.

“Hi, do you have a minute?” I asked fighting to catch my breath after weaving through the crowd of women in the hallway. I grabbed her arm and continued, “Seriously, I need to talk to you right now.”

“Sure, what’s on your mind?” I began to share my whole life story as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. She fell against the wall with a puzzled look as her body language shot me the message that I was telling her more than she needed to know. Taking a breath I finished with, “In other words…I had an abortion too.” I grabbed both of her shoulders and said, “You shared your testimony for me! Can I really be as free as you seem to be?”

She grabbed me into a tight embrace as if to secure our new sisterhood. “Yes, you can be totally free from continual shame and guilt by trusting that when you ask Jesus to forgive you…He really does.”

Her sincerity gave me hope. I followed up the weekend of the Lay Renewal by rededicating my life to the Lord. I practically ran down the aisle of our church on Sunday morning as my teal colored dress was soaked with warm tears. I wanted the forgiveness my new sister was confident of and I received it.

You see…I fell for a lie, in 1974, by listening to a message that announced I had every right to decide when to start my family. It was a smart decision to postpone motherhood, but what I didn’t hear was the decision would haunt me for the rest of my life. I had been had, but now I was healed.

"Don't give any of your children to be burned in sacrifice to the god Molech—an act of sheer blasphemy of your God. I am GOD.” Leviticus 18:21 The Message

Be careful what the world tells you is right and good for you. Make sure you know how God feels before making a quick decision that could stay with you for a lifetime.

Is She For Real?

Have you ever been in a church setting where members shared their personal testimonies? Becomes very difficult to argue what God miraculously has done, doesn’t it? Nothing thrills me more than to hear another’s “Glory Story”, as I call it. Usually the circumstances they faced and the deliverance that came can only be explained by a divine intervention.

After I repented from straying away I felt an overpowering desire to return to a church family again. I was careful, though, to keep relationships at arm’s length until I felt I could trust God’s people again. Even though I went back to church…I still had it all wrong. Attendance was not the issue.

At the age of 26, I noticed on the church bulletin that we would soon have a Lay Renewal Team coming for a weekend of revival. Just the name of the team was intriguing and somewhat intimidating too.

However, for the first time in my life I heard authentic testimonies of Christians who share not only their victories, but struggles to get where they were. Masks were removed as the enemy was exposed. Renewal led them to revival.

One young lady stands out to me as I recall her powerful testimony. It grabbed me, tugged at my heart, and turned my spirit inside out. With knees trembling, she stood, walked up to the front of our choir room full of woman, took to the microphone, and shared about God’s healing with her decision to abort her baby. I had never heard anyone be so transparent. The year was 1981 and no one—I mean…no one—talked about abortion in the church and then to admit she did this despicable act and have the audacity to claim God could forgive her of it all? Was she for real? You bet she was. She meant every word she shared.

Isaiah 61:1b prophesies Jesus’ mission in this way, “…He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” And Paul writes in Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.”

The team was just a group of captives that had been set free and I wanted what they had. More next week…