May 10, 2021

Continuing To Honor Moms and Each of You as Moms

This year’s Mother’s Day was different from last year’s as many of us had been quarantined. It made me appreciate even more each moment with Mom.

Even though Mother’s Day 2021 has just passed, I wanted us to still ponder you as a Mom and our moms for a bit.  How were you honored this year? How did you honor your Mom?

This year I bought a journal called “50 Things About My Mother: A Celebration.” I confess to you I am still working on it page by page. It lists different questions like “I’ll always ask your advice about…” and other statements or questions like that.

Within the journal I’ll include some of the memories and accomplishments I owe all to Mom. Here are a few:

1) Thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love and support as Lord nudged me to launch a new ministry last April called Blessings Brokers, a Christian Donor Development Consulting Firm. Your rock solid faith and courage continues to bolster mine.

2)  Thank you for serving as a patient gentle nurse and  caregiver last December/January as you helped me take care of my 67-year-old cousin and your nephew Mark as he suffered with a cirrhosis of the liver diagnosis. He was able to get into an assisted living facility in January thanks to your nursing his open wounds caused by edema. He lived 6 1/2 months and went to be with Jesus on 5/4/20. Thank you for helping me honor him with a Memorial Service last July and scattering his ashes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Thank you for helping me love him unconditionally.

3) Thank you for praying for me for years before I was even conceived. Since my only brother Jamie is 12 years older than me, you said you suffered a miscarriage and complications as you and Dad tried for more children after Jamie. You were about to give up when you found out you were pregnant with me.  Thanks be to God for His plan and His timing. Thank you for being my Mom.

4) Thank you for serving as a room mother in elementary school and chaperoning our field trips.

5) Thank you for dancing and for teaching me to dance. I always loved watching you and your brothers, your family shag dancing to beach music at my grandmother’s home growing up. I remember after Thanksgiving meals that the men would push aside the dinner table to create a large dance floor, perfect for dancing and making a “Soul Train”  line. We had so much fun. Watching you dance is a joy.

6) Thank you for displaying the Fruit of the Spirit each day and showing me Jesus’ unconditional love through you. “But the fruit of the Spirit IS (that means all one fruit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and  self-control. Against such things there is no law.” –Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

7) Thank you taking such good care of  me six years ago after my serious six-car accident. You were there every moment, from meeting me at the Trauma Center soon after the ambulance transported me, to gently dressing my wounds, to serving every meal, driving me everywhere as I recuperated. Words cannot express my gratitude for you being there, being present.

8) Thank you for the example of your well-read, well-worn Bible that shows to me and to anyone how “Thy Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.” Psalm 119:105.  If we may be the only Bible someone may ever read, you radiate the Word. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” John 1:14a NIV

9) Thank you for teaching me the love of flowers and God’s majesty. I appreciate that you asked me growing up to “dead-head” our 100+ roses each day after school in our garden. I will always remember the wonderful fragrance of roses in every room of our home growing up–what a gift.

10) Thank you for giving me the grace and freedom and wide open space to fail and succeed, knowing you would love me unconditionally.  You are the best cheerleader and encourager I know.

For all of us who struggle with not being a traditional Mom, may this prayer encourage each of us.

Dear God,
Thank You for the gift of motherhood. Thank You for the blessing it is for many of my friends and loved ones to be called “Mom.”
Thank You for the good plans You have in store for those who still wait to be a Mom.
Thank You for the numerous spiritual children You have given to so many of us “spiritual moms” and mentors.
We pray that You would fill this day with favor and grace as we honor Moms all around the world.
We ask for comfort for those who are grieving loss and heartache, especially on this day.
We ask for strength for those who wait for children to come back home.
We ask for healing for those who have been hurt by relationships that were intended to be loving and nurturing.
We ask for faith for those who will someday be Moms, who find themselves on a journey that seems so hard.
We ask for great encouragement and grace to cover those who have made a brave and loving choice for adoption.
We ask for incredible provision and care over every single parent mom who works so hard on behalf of her children.
We ask, Lord, that You would remind many of us who, though we do not have “physical” children, have the gift of being amazing hope-bringers to many spiritual children we’ve been blessed to nurture through these years.
God, thank you, for the gift of life. Thank You that your heart is for us, and that You are with us, in all our unique journeys and pathways.
Thank You that You are Sovereign over every part of our lives. Thank You that Your ways are perfect and You make our footsteps secure.
Today we pray for refreshment, for joy, for grace, for wisdom, for great peace…for all moms, for moms to be, and for women who nurture and lead.
In Jesus’ Name, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Reflect:

–How were you honored as a Mom? How did you honor your Mom for Mother’s Day? Please comment.

Renew:

–“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” –Exodus 20:12 ESV

–“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopus), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” –John 19-25-27 NLT

Recharge:

–Which mentor lady in your life will you still show appreciation for?

—“All I am I owe to my Mother.” –Abraham Lincoln

March 21, 2017

Holy Land Revelations Part 1: Great Wall of Prayer

Hi, Friend!

Please forgive me for not telling you about my Holy Land Experience with Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries this month. Surprise!

It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life! For the next few weeks, I’ll show you a few Holy Land candid photos I shot and some of the many, meaningful biblical lessons that soaked deep in my soul.

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It strikes me as I approach the Western Wall–the Wailing Wall–in Jerusalem. There is a hush over this place, except for the sound of some women softly sobbing. Two things connect us all here, no matter our background, our faith, our socioeconomic level, our native language…

Prayer and tears.

I wait my turn to find a narrow place to pray directly at the Wall. One lady covers her face with a veil and backs away from the Wall. I take her place and fall to my knees.

This limestone Wall has become smooth over 2000+ years from the countless hands and foreheads pressing against it, fervently crying out to God.

Many of us from our trip had written prayers on little pieces of paper to leave there. I couldn’t believe it. All the rolled-up and folded papers, all the prayers, stuffed in every crevice of the Wall and on the ground below. .

I whisper my deepest praises, prayers and dreams, as I weep beside a lady wearing a hijab. Our whispered prayers create a soul symphony.

After several minutes of prayer, I prepare to leave. The time is too short but my spot is needed by the next vulnerable soul behind me.

We had been told not to turn our backs to the wall as we left. Several of us slowly back away in silence, savoring this moment of unity and peace.

Our guide told us that each day those prayers on paper are collected and buried on the Mount of Olives. If that is so, how beautiful, how powerful, how perfect that is. The same place where Jesus will return one day (Zechariah 14:4) is the same place all those written prayers are buried.

Friend, whether at this Western Wall, in the car, outside, or in your home, every prayer you cry out to God is heard. God hears you. God sees you. God answers you in His time, in His way.

Reflect:

When is the last time you cried out to God?

Renew:

“As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.” –1 Samuel 1:12.

“Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.” –Psalm 130:1-2.

“And…the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” –Revelation 5:8.

#P31HolyLandTour

March 1, 2016

No More Puny Prayers

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I am guilty of praying puny prayers. Sure I pray for my family, friends, coworkers, loved ones with health issues, and those I know who haven’t yet accepted Jesus as their Savior.  These, I believe, are precious prayers to God.

A life-changing question was posed to a group of us recently. If God said He would answer every prayer you prayed in the last week, just as you had asked Him, would your prayers have been too small?

God is so much bigger than my little brain can even comprehend. Why don’t I pray bigger? He can handle it.

I read a Bible passage that confirmed the question asked of us. Maybe you have heard of King Ahaz of Judah. I had not.

Isaiah was a prophet.  In Isaiah 6, Isaiah had actually seen the Lord seated on a throne the year Ahaz’ s grandfather King Uzziah died. Fast forwarding a few years into Isaiah 7, Uzziah’s grandson Ahaz was now King of Judah. He was afraid to march with the King of Israel and the King of Aram to fight against Jerusalem.

The Lord told Isaiah to tell King Ahaz to stay calm, not to be afraid and not to lose heart.  It seemed like Ahaz may not have believed Isaiah. So the Lord then said to Ahaz:

“’If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’  Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask the Lord Your God for a sign. Whether in the deepest depths or the highest heights.’ Isaiah 7:9b-11

Guess how King Ahaz responded?

“But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’ “ Isaiah 7:12

Ouch.  I am so guilty of not asking because I am afraid to bother God or put Him “to the test.”

“Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of MY God also? Therefore the Lord himself  will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’” Isaiah 7:13-14.

The Lord and the prophet Isaiah were trying desperately to tell this stubborn King Ahaz that the Savior of the whole world Jesus was going to be born from his tribe of Judah, from David’s lineage!

The Lord wanted Ahaz to pray for anything, from the lowest  of prayers to the highest, the biggest prayers.

Jesus’ birth would be the answer to all his problems! Jesus is the answer to all of our problems.

God doesn’t promise that our problems go away. He does promise that He is with us, just like He was with King Ahaz. After all, Immanuel means “God with us.”

God wants a relationship with us.  He desires for us to talk with Him about everything on our heart.  That’s what He wants—our heart.

So let’s pour our hearts out to God in prayer. Tell Him anything. Ask for anything.

He will answer all of our prayers, big or small, in one of three ways: 1) Yes; 2) No; 3) Not now.

Our life is altered when we go to the altar.

Pray Big. Put God to the test.  He is ready.  Expect miracles.

Reflect:

When is the last time you prayed big?  Please comment.

How will your prayers change now?  Please comment.

Renew:

–“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. “ –Romans 8:26 NIV

–“Pray continually.” –1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

–“…The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” –Revelation 5:8b NIV

Recharge:

–Plan each day to set aside intentional prayer time with the Lord. Then pray throughout the day.

–Set aside a “War Room” or prayer space (closet, a “Prayer Chair,” the bathroom, etc) where you can be more focused and less distracted.

–Remember, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

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