Life Application Archives - Page 37 of 64

From The Archives: Everyone Needs a Ted

I originally wrote this blog post in August and it meant a lot to others, so I thought I would share it again.

Have you ever met that one person in your life that simply looked at you and you felt changed? Their smile made you long for a deeper relationship with Christ. Their hugs gave you a feeling of safety you never knew existed.

I want to introduce you to someone. Someone who has done this for me.
Meet Ted…
December 2006
I met him when I walked into Woodland Hills Family Church as a lost sheep roaming through this world having no idea I needed a Shepard.
Ted was the first person that introduced himself and gave me a hug. I wasn’t a huggy person then, so the fact that he got close enough to do it was definitely from God. I had never experienced anything quite like that. Only one word can describe it – safe.
Over the course of the next six months I watched Ted’s actions. His words inspired, but his actions did more. His smile inspired me. To see a grown man stand on stage and cry when discussing his faith made me long for something like that. The way his heart reached out to others allowed me to see a form of authenticity I had never seen before. I wanted that.
Six months after meeting Ted for the first time and receiving that unforgettable hug, I cried out to Jesus in the middle of my office and gave him my life. I wanted what Ted had.
As I began a new journey in my life, Ted walked with me through it. He gave me truth. He showed me what love from Jesus was. He showed me the heart of a man I had never seen before.
December 2008
Ted prayed with me as I traveled to spend the last days with my dying father.
February 2009
Ted led the funeral of my dad and gave a sermon that brought tears to the eyes of alcoholics, drug addicts, and many lost people that gathered in that room to mourn the loss of my father. Ted didn’t just help me mourn. He helped me celebrate. Because my dad came to know the Lord on his death bed, Ted was able to share that story with others.
At the end of my dad’s funeral, five people raised their hands as Ted invited them to accept Christ into their hearts.
I’ll never forget the words he said to me.

“You’re dad did more for others in his death than he did in his life. Let’s celebrate.”

August 2009
His jeep pulled up at my apartment and as I met him downstairs dressed in a beer stained shirt, swollen eyes from tears, and a broken heart, he said words that changed my life.

“I’m not your father. I’m not your grandfather. But I’m going to talk to you like you’re my daughter. You need help and I love you too much to watch you do this to yourself.”

Two hours later he hugged me as I got in the vehicle to head to The Table Rock Freedom Center.
February 2010
He baptized me with the look of a proud father on his face.

August 2010
He sat in the front row as I shared my story of how God had changed my life as I graduated from TRFC. We also celebrated our over 100 pound weight loss.
August 2011
We sat at our favorite little diner, Clocker’s Cafe in downtown Branson and talked about the changes God had made in our lives. We shared stories. We shared silent moments of bittersweet memories. That feeling of safety came back as I dipped my spoon in the hot oatmeal and allowed myself to be vulnerable with the man who made me want to be more like Jesus.
If you’ve never met Ted, I hope someday you do. His smile will captivate you. His heart will bring tears to your eyes. His words will challenge you. You can’t walk away the same as before.
Is there a Ted in your life? Comment below…

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

by | Life Application

I recently decided I wanted to play Martha Stewart and fix a great lunch for a well deserving friend. That recipe will come later. Then I decided to pull an Emeril and “Kick it up a notch!”
I wanted to make dessert and since we both try to eat healthy I couldn’t think of anything. So, another friend suggested fruit and cheese kabobs. Bingo! I made them. We ate them. We loved them.
When making the dip, I decided to add an extra touch. I tossed in some Dark Chocolate Balsamic from Devo Olive Oil = Heaven!

P.S. I thought I was going to have to take the spoon away because she wouldn’t stop eating the dip.
Here is the recipe for fruit and cheese kabobs. Feel free to add whatever fruit you like. I went with Strawberries and Pineapples because I’m cheap and they were on sale. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
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Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

Ingredients:

1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
1-1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
1 package Monterey cheddar cheese cubes
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon Devo Dark Chocolate Balsamic
Approximately 12 wooden skewers

Directions:

On wooden skewers, alternately thread the strawberries, pineapples and cheese cubes.
For dip, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, sour cream, honey, cinnamon and balsamic.
Serve immediately or refrigerate.

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What other fruits would you suggest? Different cheeses perhaps? I would love your ideas. Comment below…

Help Me Tell The Story

by | Life Application

photo credit: airdiogo (creative commons)

My blog has been a little heavy over the last day or two so I thought I would lighten things up a bit.
I want you to help me tell a story. Any story.
Be creative. Be clean. Have fun.
I’ll start:

She was standing by the water fountain when….

Your turn. Go..

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What Would You Say?

by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application

A friend and I were having lunch after church on Sunday and she asked me a question that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. In light of the Penn State incident, we had previously discussed that morning as members of the prayer team, the actions we needed to take if a child told us someone was sexually molesting them.
I asked her what she would do if a child came to her with something like that. She gave some great answers.
Then…
She asked me this question:

“What would you have wanted someone to say to you?

I’m not sure I was prepared for it as I tried to choke back my tears and finish my Thai food. She was asking a deep question I’m not sure I have ever thought about until that moment. I was immediately brought back to a small child, remembering times I myself had been molested.
What would I want them to say to me?
As I continue to think about the question, a few things come to mind.

I would want someone to hold me tightly in their arms and let me know that I was safe. Not with their words, but the feeling of being safe with them.
I would want the protection of my father, with the belief that as long as he was there no one could hurt me.
I would want them to tell me I wasn’t a bad person and that even though I was going through this abuse I did NOTHING to deserve it.
I would have wanted someone to tell me about this man named Jesus. How it hurt him to know that I was being hurt. How he loved me with an everlasting love and that I could accept his love, despite the pain I was going through at that moment.

Though I know all of this now I can’t help but wonder how different things would be had I known then. Not that I would take any of it back. It has made me who I am today. But that doesn’t mean I still don’t wonder.

Questions To Ask Yourself

by | Life Application

photo credit: karim rezk (creative commons)

Yesterday I discussed building your gratitude muscle.
I promised I would share with you one of the ways I hold onto that gratitude. In Tommy Newberry’s book The 4:8 Principle, he recommends filling out 4:8 questions every morning and every night. Though it didn’t start to work for immediately, the results didn’t take long to show. I was finding little things to be grateful for and I didn’t have time for the negative things.
I mixed up his recommendation to suit me better and here it is. I hope you enjoy.

4:8 QUESTIONS

Morning: