by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
photo credit: flickr (creative commons)
As I continue to grow in leadership, the more I realize my actions are being watched from every angle. But most importantly, regardless of who is watching me, I always know God is.
Stepping into a role of leadership means that expectations are higher. It is up to me to set a good example for those around me. No pressure..
I don’t always do it right.
I recently attended a ball game with some friends. I decided to pack a bag of Cheerios to bring with me in case I wanted a snack later. When I got to the ball park my friends let me know I would have to hide the cereal because it wasn’t allowed past the gates. I didn’t realize that. So, without thinking I stuck the Ziploc bag in the pocket of my shorts and walked through with my ticket.
Those around seemed ok with it. But I wasn’t. I was doing something wrong and I knew it.
Later as others around me munched on ice cream and funnel cakes, I got my Cheerios out and snacked away. But with every bite I took, the guilt ate at me even more. I was breaking the rules.
It reads in Romans 13:5:
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
You may be saying to yourself, “You only brought in Cheerios. It’s not like you stole anything. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Wrong…
It is a big deal. The rules clearly stated that no outside food or drink was allowed. Yet I did it anyway. I not only chose to disobey ballpark rules, I disobeyed God.
As I sat later and thought about it, I found myself asking forgiveness for not only being disobedient, but proving a horrible example for my peers around me.
What did that say about my character?
I hate to disappoint, but this goes for the movie theater too. Sneaking in that can of soda and bag of chips should be something you reconsider.
Question…
If someone is willing to sneak a bag of cereal into a ball park when it’s against the rules, will the next step be cheating on their taxes?
God sees all. Not just some. All.
I would love to know your thoughts on this. What other examples can you give regarding this situation? Comment below…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
A couple weeks ago I received some exciting news. Out of hundreds of people, I was one of few selected to attend the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA.
What is the Catalyst Conference?
Catalyst is a powerful gathering of young leaders, a movement of influencers and world changers who love Jesus, see things differently, and want to do better.
God has designed me to be a leader, and this opportunity will not only continue to mold me into that leader, it will allow me the chance to learn from others.
Some of the lineup includes:
- Michael Hyatt, Chairman of the Board, Thomas Nelson Publishers
- Francis Chan, Author of Crazy Love
- Andy Stanley, Lead Pastor at North Point Community Church
- Marc Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church
- Priscilla Shirer, Founder of Going Beyond Ministries and Bible Teacher
- David Platt, Pastor of the Church at Brookhills and author of Radical
Is that amazing or what?
I have no doubt that I will walk away from this conference changed.
But.. I Need Your Help
The conference takes place in Atlanta, GA, October 5-7th. Airfare and hotel accomodations can be pricy. In order to make the trip I must come up with $807.65.
As soon as I received the great news via phone call I started imagining the amazing things that would come out of this three-day event. I will be networking with people from all over the world. I will have the opportunity to share parts of my story and what God has done in my life. I will have the chance to tell others about what an amazing organization the Table Rock Freedom Center is. But most importantly, I saw myself being changed by the truth of others I might have never met if it wasn’t for the opportunity to attend this conference.
Would you consider donating today to help me with the expenses of getting to the conference and back?
If you can’t provide a financial donation, I would appreciate your prayer support just as much, if not more. Prayers for preparing for the trip, getting everything in order, for God to put the right people in my path in Atlanta, and safety.
If you wish to donate online, you can do so here on my Facebook page through the FundRazr Facebook application.
If you wish to mail payment, you can send to:
Sundi Jo Graham
PO Box 1438
Hollister, MO 65673
Thank you for your consideration.
Have you attend the Catalyst Conference? What impact did it have on you? Comment below…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
photo credit: JonJon2k8(creative commons)
It amazes me how sometimes you don’t realize just how much you needed something until you get it.
Last week I had the privilege of leading a chapel service with the women at Table Rock Freedom Center. Chapel simply means you get the opportunity to hang out with these amazing women for a couple of hours and share your testimony, hear their stories, and get to know them more. It’s a blessing for anyone involved.
Here’s the cool part:
I walked away from that experience with a peace I didn’t even know I needed.
I had the privilege of sharing my testimony with the girls. When I began to share the story of my father’s death, the tears started to flow. Even though it’s been over two years, perhaps they always will. I told them the story of bringing my dad to know Christ on his death-bed. What a blessed opportunity that was. Though he was barely able to talk, I read the sinner’s prayer and he repeated amen at the end.
I have never gotten the answer as to how exactly my dad died. Of course that leaves room for the imagination to run wild. It has. I’m a person who likes to have answers, and not having the reasoning to something this big has bothered me.
I then shared about the event leading up to my dad’s death. The evening before we, had a great phone conversation. I was planning a weekend trip to come and see him. He was struggling with some things, so I gave him some Bible verses to read. I remember saying, “Whenever you get frustrated just open it and read those verses.”
He replied in his best redneck voice, “I’ll be reading all the time.”
We ended the conversation with “I love you” and hung up.
The next morning….
He was dead.
After I shared my testimony and the night came to a close, one of the most amazing things happened. One of the women, Eliza, spoke life changing words into my life.
“What if,” she asked, “that night your dad opened the Scriptures that you gave him, read those words, and they really sunk in? Maybe he really accepted Christ that night in the deepest places, and God finally said, ‘It’s time to come home.'”
It was as if a brick had been taken off my shoulders. A brick I didn’t even know was there. I have no doubt that God was speaking to me through this beautiful woman. He was giving me an answer that I had been so desperately seeking. It was time for my dad to go home. It was time.
I woke up the next morning with peace. My daddy was right where he needed to be and I didn’t need to question anymore. My Father in Heaven had given me comfort that I so desperately needed, but hadn’t realized just how much.
Two days later I opened my cell phone and deleted my daddy’s phone number. It was time to let that go. It was time. There were no tears. There were no regrets. There was simply peace.
What unanswered things are you holding onto that you need to let go? Comment below…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
photo credit: jayneandd(creative commons)
According to dictionary.com, the definition of completion is:
the action or process of finishing something.
I don’t know about you, but I have gone through life with a lot of unfinished things. I didn’t finish writing that book report in elementary school, so I just made up a story. I didn’t complete the required criteria to attend the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) field trip in high school, so I didn’t get to attend. I quit going to college after one year. I quit writing because I got depressed. I stopped hoping because I let my faith run dry. The list goes on and on.
Have you been down this road too? You start something only to walk away and leave it unfinished.
Yesterday I celebrated completion. It was the one year anniversary of my graduation from the Table Rock Freedom Center. One year ago I was able to add that word to my vocabulary. I had finally completed something. What a feeling!
For those of you who don’t know about the Table Rock Freedom Center, you can read my latest post about this life changing organization here. As I have said many times, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. But I did it!
It wasn’t just myself that added completion to my list that day. My friend Amy joined me too. We went through the program together. We fought. We screamed at each other. We cussed at each other. We cried together. We prayed together. We screamed together. We laughed together. There were days I couldn’t stand to look at her. And there were days she felt the same about me.
But it never failed, that after a day or so we couldn’t keep going the way we were. We would sit down to talk. Our talk would turn into a louder argument. We would each have our opinions. Then our hearts would soften. By the end of it we were embracing each other through tears. You can’t live with someone 24 hours a day and not grow a bond.
I saw Amy yesterday. We haven’t seen each other much since we left TRFC. Our lives have gone in separate directions, but the bond still remains. I visited her church and we stood together and worshiped like old times. We laughed over lunch and of course reminisced about the good and bad times during the course of that year.
It was nice.
It reminded me that all friendships don’t look the same. Though we don’t see or talk to each other daily, the bond is still there. It picked up where it left off. It always will.
I could have found many ways to celebrate yesterday, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Taking part in the day with the person who shared that moment of completion with me was perfect.
Enduring that intense year has taught me that I no longer have to fear completion. Because of God’s strength in me to overcome that fear, I am now
- Finishing my college degree
- Writing that book I’ve always wanted to write
- Speaking to people with boldness and faith
- Pursuing relationships that could have been lost
- Walking through the hard things despite my fear
Who knew such a word could mean so much?
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us-Hebrews 12:1
What have you recently completed that you never thought you could? If you haven’t done so yet, what fear is holding you back? Comment below…
by | Life Application
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.
Yesterday
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…
by | Life Application
photo credit: short sale daily news
Let’s face it. We all make life more difficult than it has to be. Don’t you think? I know I certainly do.
I can be a slob. Sometimes it makes it makes things difficult when I’m trying to figure out where my favorite shirt is. Oh yeah! It’s still in the floor from last week and I forgot to wash it.
Or when I am running late to be somewhere and realize my gas light is on and I have to make an extra stop.
I procrastinate. The jury is still out whether that makes things difficult. I work well under pressure. For instance, I’m under pressure to get this blog post finished because I’m running out of time. But, I’m bound and determined to get it done.
I wanted to share a few ideas with you on how to uncomplicate your life.
Here are fifteen ways to simplify your life:
- Get at least eight hours of sleep per night. You’ll tend to be more productive in the morning and less cranky throughout the day.
- Put money in savings every week, even if it’s only a little bit. You’ll be surprised how fast your discipline pays off.
- Keep your checkbook balanced. Never assume you have enough in the bank.
- Follow a budget. Stick with it. Preaching this to myself.
- Kiss and make up.
- Say “I love you” even when you’re mad.
- Don’t go to bed angry. It’s really not worth it.
- Tell the truth.
- Don’t cheat on your taxes.
- Forgive.
- Spend your time around people who lift you up and encourage you.
- Make time for you.
- Drink more water.
- Let go of your expectations of others.
- Never cease praying. Make this number one on the list.
What are some other things you can do to uncomplicate your life? Comment below…
