This past weekend was monumental for many reasons. I’m sure I’ll be blogging about all the things to come in the future.
I was reminded again of the transformation God does when we allow Him to.
Saturday I attended my ten year class reunion. I was a little bit nervous, but more excited than anything. I was going to see people I hadn’t seen in a while. Not only had I changed physically, but I was a different person all around.
I stayed with some friends I had graduated with. They were high school sweethearts and they now have three sons. As I watched their entertaining, chaotic family, I couldn’t help but smile. They were living life, and living it to the fullest. I was inspired. Then the coolest thing happened…
Sunday morning we all climbed in the Suburban to head to church. We jammed out to worship songs on our way. The last time I was in a car with the happily married couple, things were very different. I don’t think any of us were sober. We partied like rock stars when we were younger.
I sat in church and the guy I partied with in high school, who is now a proud father of three and an amazingly Godly husband, was serving me communion. It was really hard for me to hold back the tears. We all sat in that church worshiping God together. I looked at his wife in amazement at just how far the three of us had come.
I have always struggled with the fear that my past would bite me in the butt. But it doesn’t have to if I don’t allow it to. I can use it to be reminded of God’s grace and mercy for me. For my friends. They haven’t allowed their past to determine their future and I’m so blessed to be a part of their lives.
I am so blessed to call them not only friends, but my brother and sister in Christ. What has God changed in you? I would love for you to share. Comment below…
I went to the license bureau last week to renew my driver’s license. (Shh… don’t tell anyone they were expired and I was three days late.)
I was never so excited to walk in and write a check to get my new license. There wasn’t an ounce of dread on my face. Actually, people probably wondered why I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Here’s why…
This was me the last time I got my license.
Embarassing right? It was then. I would have been mortified to show anyone that license.
Fast forward to last week. After I did my eye exam and got all the street signs correct (okay, I missed the median sign), the attendant asked my height and my weight. I proudly told him, grinning from ear to ear, my weight. He laughed and congratulated me on my 45 pound weight loss.
That’s when I corrected him and said, “Actually, I lied on my license. I was 100 pounds heavier. I’ve actually lost 145 pounds.”
After he wiped the initial shock off his face, I said, “that’s why you should never lie on your driver’s license.”
Pretty much every woman I know doesn’t like to show off their license. They either hate their picture, or they don’t want their friends to know their weight. I used to be like that. Guess what?
Not anymore! I’ll show it to anyone who wants to see it, because it’s another testimony of the power of God. It’s another opportunity to let others know that God can change anyone. What is one thing He has done in you that you’re thanking Him for today? Comment below…
My pastor spoke those words in a sermon several weeks ago, but I haven’t been able to forget about them. Good huh? That’s supposed to be the point of a sermon – that we walk away remembering.
Well, not only did I remember his words, God recently put me to the test. He’s good like that.
I started college again a few weeks ago and I’m trying to get back into the routine. Algebra is my weakest link. Ask me to write a paper and I can do that. Ask me to factor a Polynomial and I become cross-eyed.
I can be a pretty outgoing person. I like to meet new people. I enjoy new conversations. But… not when I’m sitting in my Algebra class. I want my 100% focus on the teacher and the lesson. I don’t have time to spare. Let me rephrase that. I don’t have the extra brain power to spare. The last thing on my mind is making new friends.
Last week I walked in and smiled at the girl sitting next to me. I got my books out, sat my bottled water on the desk, got my pencil out and waited. I was trying me best to keep math the only thing on my mind. Then, I felt God nudging me to tell her hello. So I did. I quickly looked at her, smiled, again, and said “hello.” She said it back and I was one. I did my part. Could we please get to Algebra now?
Two days later it was time for class again. I walked in with the same routine. There she was. I smiled and went about my business. God nudged me again to tell her hello. So I did. But then He prompted me to ask her how she was. He was taking this conversation thing too far.
I avoided Him. Ask her how she’s doing?
Again, I avoided.
Then He spoke clear as day to me as the words of my pastor rang in my ear. Delayed Obedience is Disobedience….
Ouch.
At that point Algebra didn’t matter anymore. I was convicted of putting material things before relationships. I closed my book and began to have a conversation with her. We talked a bit and I said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name.” We visited a little longer before class started. Thirty minutes later I was explaining a question on an assignment to her.
I’m not sure what God has in store, but I am now eager to find out. Perhaps I’m going to start by remembering her name. Have I mentioned that’s a weakness too? What are you putting off until tomorrow that needs to be done today?
You’ve heard the old saying, “No news is good news.” I would have to disagree with that statement.
When you’re waiting for something, no news isn’t good. Sometimes it drives you crazy! Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. But, I’m not here to talk about impatience. That’s another post for another day.
I want to discuss accountability.
I believe that being accountable to others in our lives is an absolute necessity. God created us for relationships. Obviously, he fulfills all of our needs. But He also created us to need others.
I covered this topic previously on the necessity of accountability, but I want to take it one step further.
Over the year I have watched a few of my friends from the Table Rock Freedom Center fall. Unfortunately, there’s not always a 100% success rate. They didn’t run back into their addictions overnight.
In every case, one of the reasons they have fallen back into old habits they worked so hard to break has been the same. Lost Accountability…
It usually happens gradually. One week they call you and everything is fine. Then you go a week without hearing from them. They send a brief text message to follow-up and hope that will do the trick. The text messages stop and they don’t answer their phone. A month later you get a phone call asking them for help because they’ve slipped back into their addiction.
I am 100% confident that the moment you stop being accountable to others, you will fall into one of Satan’s vicious traps.
I wish you could hear the desperation in my voice through the words of this post as I tell you that accountability is an absolute necessity.
I am living proof of the power of what keeping a safe group of those who love me close by can do. Everyday, whether it’s by email, text, phone, or in person. I stay in contact with those I have agreed to let hold me accountable. It could be a quick hello or an hour-long conversation. I’m not saying everyone needs to do it on a daily basis, but it works for me.
I am not perfect either. I still make mistakes. Some of them have been foolish mistakes. But what keeps me going is telling others that I trust what I’m thinking. How my emotions are. What I am feeling. No secrets. Truth.
Be accountable to your husband. Your wife. Your sister. Your best friend. Your mentor. Your church family.
A simple word. Yet so profound. Accountability… Do you have an accountability partner? What have they helped you through?
I’m thinking about the lyrics to Michael Jackson’s song “Black and White”.
But, if
You’re thinkin’
About my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white
I saw this picture not too long ago on Pinterest and it provides a perfect picture of diversity. When you crack open a white egg what do you get? When you crack open a brown egg what do you get? The yolk is the same….
Throw them in a pan, mix them together with some salt and pepper, and you have scrambled eggs. Over medium. Poached. An omelet. It’s all made from the same yolk.
Do you believe that?
Perhaps diversity in the United States has indeed improved. That can be verified with the election of the first African American President. However, in the church, I believe there is much room to grow. Scott Williams, former pastor of LifeChurch.tv, Church Diversity: Sunday, The Most Segrated Day Of The Week. I hadn’t realized this was an issue until Williams talked about it. But it is…
Recently, thanks to my parents’ wonderful gifts of hospitality, we recently had the privilege of hosting a beautiful woman of God, Sharalee, from Jamaica. She had a beautiful spirit and a smile that never seemed to leave her face.
As I stood at church on Sunday, I realized that diversity in our church was obviously missing. It’s not the church’s fault. Branson doesn’t have a high volume of African Americans. I think that’s a completely different problem I could focus on. Why, I don’t know, but I have my ideas.
The coolest thing about my new friend – she was worshiping God among a thousand others without a care in the world. Her focus was on Jesus and Jesus only.
In that church was a “brown egg” and a “white egg.” But inside was the same yolk serving the same God. I loved it!
I love this quote from Scott.
Potential unrealized is just potential.We are the change. We are the change that impacts our little pockets of the globe that we call our community. God has not only allowed you to be a part of your community, but you have been given the responsibility to influence your little piece of the globe.
What responsibility are you taking today? Comment below…
Most people who attend church enjoy their church and their pastor. I don’t have any statistics to prove that; it’s just my assumption. Why would you attend a church you don’t like?
That doesn’t mean that we never get aggravated with our pastor or church leadership. But, can we do so and still honor them? Absolutely.
I wrote a post several months ago on several ways to honor your pastor.
I’ll admit that there are days I have been annoyed by the words of my pastor. If they’re always doing everything just right, then there’s most likely a problem. Let me say this: my pastor is not a people pleaser and I love that about him. (more…)
