May 3, 2016

Thank you, Mom!

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With just five days before Mother’s Day, let’s ponder our moms for a bit.  What are you planning to do to honor your Mom?

This Mother’s Day, let’s try something different. Let’s try to write at least 30 memories or characteristics you’re grateful for with your Mom. Then write or type them, cut them into slips of paper, and give to her for Mother’s Day in a little box. She can enjoy reading a month of encouragement over and over, one for each day. This year is the third Mother’s Day I have written memories and will write 30 new memories this year (shhh, please don’t tell her). This blog or a box simply cannot contain my gratitude. The following are the first 12 Mom gratitude memories:

1) Thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love and support this past year as God called me to move to North Carolina with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Your rock solid faith continues to bolster mine. You are truly a Proverbs 31 lady.

2)  Thank you for serving as a wonderful, gentle nurse for me last year 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.

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 for teaching me that if three or more cars are in line at a fast-food restaurant, it’s faster to go inside to order your food. I don’t eat fast food much, but I still abide by this.

8) Thank you for attending all my home and away basketball and volleyball games in high school.  Sometimes you and Dad were two of a few parents cheering in the stands.

9) 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

10) Thank you for making me have a curfew, even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I so respect the healthy rules and boundaries you set for me growing up. You set them with love.

11) 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.

12) 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.

Do you struggle with this upcoming holiday?  Some have beloved Moms who are in heaven. Some struggle with their relationship with their Mom. If either is the case, my hearts hurts as yours does. I encourage you to seek out an older lady in your life who can or currently serves as a mentor to you. Please consider honoring her for Mother’s Day. Some Moms are blood-related. Others are related by the blood of Jesus. Happy Mother’s Day, friend.

Reflect:

–How do you plan to 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 NIV

–“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 show appreciation for?

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

April 19, 2016

The Eyes Have It–Looking Up

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Recently I have noticed more and more how those of us shopping in stores, standing in check-out lines, and meandering through airports don’t seem to make eye contact much anymore. We all seem to be looking down at our SmartPhones or talking on them.  I am guilty of it also. Pitiful.

My Mom brought it to my attention. Mom loves to look people in the eye and smile. I observed her making this sweet effort repeatedly. When we have traveled together, as we made our way through the airport, to our gate, onto the  airplane, then to our seats, she would smile at anyone who made eye contact with her. When we sat down, she made the comment that hardly anyone seems to look up anymore and notice what’s going on around them. Ouch. It’s so true. I’m often one of them.

Also, any military person or police officer in uniform Mom saw who made eye contact with her, she would thank him for his service to our country. What encouragement. I will do that from now on also. Encouragement was given in that brief moment when eye contact was made.

Who might we give encouragement to by making eye contact? Whose encouragement might we be missing by not making eye contact?  Eye contact equals more acts of kindness.

“My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.” –Psalm 101:6 NIV

Years ago a pastor said he was reading an article while his child was trying to talk with him. Finally this child took her Daddy’s face in her hands and said, “Daddy, please listen with your face.” 

May we all be reminded today to “listen with our face,” to look up, make eye contact, and smile. We may give the only eye contact and smile someone receives all day.

Reflect:

How does this message resonate with you?

Do you want to change any habits?

Renew:

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” –Psalm 119:18 NIV

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word.” –Psalm 119:37 NIV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.” –Matthew 6:22 NIV

Recharge:

How will you change your habits to look up, “listen with your face,” make eye contact and smile at others?

April 5, 2016

Exploring New Territory–Lessons from Caleb

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Dear friend, if you are like me, you may be exploring some new territory of some sort in your life. The Bible story of exploring Canaan from Numbers 13 keeps coming to my heart. During this exploration, Caleb was set apart as a leader. What set Caleb apart?

The Lord had told Moses to pick a leader from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Most were unknown except Caleb and Joshua. They were spies to “case the joint” to explore Canaan and bring back a report.  So Moses sent these 12 whippersnappers out through Negev, out to the hill country for 40 days to see what the land was like, what the people were like who lived there. Were they strong or weak? Were the towns walled? Was the soil fertile? Were there trees? They were even told to bring back some fruit if they could.

When the spies got to Canaan, they hit the jackpot. The grapes, pomegranates and figs were so huge, it took two MEN to carry a single cluster of grapes. At the end of 40 days they came back.

When the spies returned, 10 of them gave a negative report.

“It does flow with milk and honey. Here is the fruit. BUT, the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and large.” –Numbers 13:27.  Such a negative perspective.

Here comes my favorite part:

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” –Numbers 13:30.

One sentence. One declaration of pure faith in God.

“BUT the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are.”–Numbers 13:31.

The louder voices of fear spread among the people. The Israelites then grumbled and actually wanted to go back to Egypt where they had been slaves. They even said they wanted to pick a leader to head back, basically overthrowing Moses’ authority.

Moses and Aaron fell face down and tore their clothes in humble, desperate dependence on God, interceding again for the people. The Lord forgave the Israelites and let them live. But because of their rebellion and disbelief, though, what should have been an 11 day journey into Canaan, the Promised Land, took 40 years of wandering.

The Lord told Moses: “…No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to.”–Numbers 14:24

Out of 3 million + original Israelites who started the journey, Caleb and Joshua–not even Moses–were the only ones to go into the land of Canaan 40 years later. Wow!

So what can we leadership lessons can we learn from Caleb?

1) Trust God that He is stronger than any giant. What are the giants in our lives? Fear? Opposition? What/who do we fear? Like Caleb believed, God is stronger for us to defeat any giant in our path. Do it scared. Also trust each other. Have each other’s backs.

2) Be positive and have faith. There were 10 LOUD pessimists and only two optimists. Like the ten, we can put difficulties between us and God and say we are not able or like the two, we can put God between the difficulties and ourselves and say we are able! One commentator said, “To the other 10 spies, the problems seem bigger than God.  When a person like Caleb acknowledges the power of God, he or she will not minimize the divine resources available.”

3) Your voice counts. Even if you, like Caleb, are the only God-led voice that differs from the others, your voice is needed and appreciated.

4) Be courageous—it took courage for Caleb to stand up as the first voice. When we talk about courage and standing up, we often refer to the Ephesians 6 Armor of God. Remember that every part of that armor faces the front. God wants us to face our issues, face our problems head on, not run away from them. Have courage.

Just a little personal aside: If you could read my prayer journal, you’d see the insecurity I have faced this past year and a half as the Lord called me to Proverbs 31 Ministries and to live in the new amazing Canaan of Charlotte, NC. We at Proverbs 31 Ministries are also exploring new territory as we work toward the God-sized vision to eradicate Biblical poverty.

This message is really for me, so I appreciate you reading it also. 🙂

Like Caleb, I want to serve God my wholeheartedly and trust Him. May we be encouraged by the lessons of Caleb as we explore the new territories of our lives, sweet friend.  We can certainly do it.

Reflect:

–What new territories are you facing?

–How can you be more like Caleb? Please comment.

Renew:

–“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” –Numbers 14:17

–“For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it.” –Proverbs 2:21

-Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” –Ephesians 6:10-11.

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