Strange Living

I recently heard about the lifestyle of a salmon and was totally amazed. I did not know that a salmon swims upstream (opposite the current) to survive. To my surprise this creature isn't one that looks at other fish and decides he wants to turn around and swim the way everyone else is swimming; besides, that's what he should do right?  He should go with the flow, go with the way everyone else is doing it and maybe, just maybe he'll be "cool" or "in style"! The truth is, if this fish made the decision to swim with the other fish, he'd die.


Too many times we find ourselves trying to fit in with everyone else to spare us from looking different.  We'll curse because everyone else is, we'll cheat on our spouse because everyone else is, we'll divorce, cheat on taxes, not say anything to the person that's our "friend" because we want to keep the peace, because that's what people do, right?
What I particularly found interesting about salmon is that they are born in fresh water,  migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce*.  We live in a strange land, but we must return to the place of originality, go back to our Creator, if we want to reproduce.  Could it be that we are not truly living life abundantly because we've stayed in the "ocean" too long?  Could it be that we've lingered in a place of commonality so long that we've conformed to it?


In the book Successful Women Think Differently by Valorie Burton, she says, "The opportunity to upward social comparison is endless in our culture. And if you engage in it and are not intentional about limiting your exposure, you will sabotage your well-being and perhaps even your confidence."


What are you willing to do to ensure that you don't get caught up in the "flow" of life?  To be honest, cutting off people, television shows, places, thoughts and languages are the hardest, but most beneficial.  Take a moment to set your standard and be bold in walking in it!


For Your Thought:  "We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope."  I Chronicles 29:15 (NIV)


*www.wikipedia.com

The Mystery of a Woman

I recently heard author, speaker, and coach, Michelle McKinney Hammond ask a question that intrigued me for weeks.  It was, “Whatever happened to the mystery of a woman?”  WOW!  My mouth twisted and my eyebrows went up, which normally is an indicator that my interest has officially been piqued.

I thought about this question and began to ask a series of questions that would accompany it:
1.     What is it about a woman that makes her mysterious?
2.     Why should a woman want to be mysterious?
3.     Why or what has made us lose our mystery?

I asked my husband if a man liked mysterious women and he answered, “Yes, it’s part of the chase.”  I asked him to explain further, “Men don’t want a woman that’s all out with it, they want a woman who doesn’t reveal herself immediately because if it’s too easy, it’s no fun.  A man likes to feel as though he’s a conqueror.  She may be good to sleep with, but it’s the unveiling that’s the fulfillment! It’s the peeling her back, winning her over that makes it fulfilling and adventurous.  That is what speaks to the heart of a man and lights the fire within.”

As you can tell, my husband is a man of wisdom and definitely doesn’t hold back!
Now it’s time to be introspective and ask yourself these questions.  Whether you’re married or single, being a woman who knows how to contain what needs to be contained and maintaining ways of femininity and character must always be at the forefront of our minds.  Are we allowing society to dictate who we should be as women or are we afraid of going unnoticed?

When to take the "L"

When I feel like I'm winning, but my husband feels like he's losing...I take the "L".
When someone's challenging my faith and I know I could put it all in check and prove my point to be right...I take the "L".
When people lie on me, talk bad about me and do their best to humiliate me, even when I know God has made me to be someone special...I take the "L".


You see, taking the "L" means more than taking the "L"ow road. It means putting on the "L"ove of God and forsaking everything else that does not reflect that "L"ove. 


Thank you Jesus for taking the "L" when you were spit on, lied on, beaten, and even humiliated.  You took the "L" when people denied you, sold you out and mocked you.  I'll never understand the cost you paid for me, but I pray that I never forget that as I take the "L"ow road, I must also put on the "L"ove of God. 


What situation will happen in your life today that will challenge you to take the "L"?  Will you give in? 

Faith Ride (Stepping Into Bold Faith)

My husband David and I had only been married less than a year, when God decided to test our faith. Well, I'm not sure how much Dave asked for the "pop quiz", but this was the time to show that he trusted the God of his new bride. I remember like it was yesterday; I was at work sitting at my desk when I called him and said, "Babes, I believe God wants us to go to New York." He answered with a very slow, slurred voice, "Ooookay. And why does God want us to go to New York?" My response was simple, "I'm not sure." Needless to say, he was not ready to go on my faith ride. I decided to ask God to help me with him. So I called and made a deal, "Okay, if we find a deal to New York, we'll go, if not, we won't...how's that?" He sighed and said, "Okay baby". Our financial situation screamed that this was not the time for us to go out to eat, yet alone to another state 2,000 miles away. I searched fervently for airline tickets that were below the normal rates, and then it happened...the weekend "hot fare"...New Jersey special from Houston $79 one way! That was all I needed to prove that it was indeed the Lord that spoke to me and not me trying to think up a way to convince my husband to take a quick getaway. After he agreed, we were on our way to New Jersey, which was close enough for me to New York.

While we were at the airport, pretty excited that we actually made it there in enough time to sit and enjoy a nice lunch, we stood in line ready to eat and my husband begins to pat himself down frantically. I looked and asked afraid, "What's wrong?" he said, "I left the money in my drawer!" I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me?!", but I was too humbled by the fact that he chose to go with me on this faith ride, so I simply told him it was okay and that I had packed a few snacks in my purse.

We finally arrived in New Jersey; the problem, we have no money. We checked into a hotel where we barely had enough money in the bank to pay for one night. Renting a car was out of the question. I had packed a cup of noodles in my purse that we made with the help of the coffee pot in the room that produced the hot water. We had nothing but prayer and no one but God. There was absolutely no "Plan B". Dave and I joined together in prayer that Saturday night that God would perform a miracle. We were too far away and frankly too embarrassed to call any of our friends and family to let them know how crazy our faith had gotten. I remember crying out to God in my sleep, "God, I KNOW I heard you. Please come through." That morning we woke up...hungry. It was a Sunday morning, so yes, we were hungry for the Word, but even more hungry for something to eat! I called our bank beginning at 3am for what seemed like every hour until I heard it. "Balance on this account is $300" (I can't remember the exact amount). I called again to make sure that what I was hearing was in OUR account and that I didn't accidentally key in someone else's account number. It was there, in our account, all three hundred and something dollars of it!

First things first, we ate breakfast! Afterwards, we found a rental car and quickly found a church! We drove up to a church that started a little late, which was exactly what we needed. When we walked in, it was everything but what we were accustomed to, but we stayed. The next moment would be monumental for this trip of never ending surprises. The preacher was a guest preacher by the name of Michael Jordan. He had an all white robe on and he gave us the title of his message with an unapologetic roar, "A Faith That is Not Tested, Is a Faith that Can't Be Trusted". At that moment, Dave and I looked at one another and as our eyes locked, we knew that God was and had always been with us! Looking back, we would not have changed one thing.

Taking Time

I had the opportunity to briefly attend a vigil with my son that was held for a young boy who was 16-years old and committed suicide. This hurt me to my heart. Not only did I feel the burden for his parents, but for the hundreds of teens that came together to celebrate this young boy's short life. You see, as a parent, I can't help but to think about what was he going through that he had made up in his mind his life was hopeless. I couldn't help but wonder if his mother or father noticed anything different in him, but decided that maybe it was just a phase he was going through. I couldn't help but wonder if in his daily routine something was "off", but nobody noticed or dared to say anything.

Being a mother of 3 teenagers myself, it's often easy to get into the busyness of life and dismiss unusual behavior as being "teenage stuff"; however, I'm challenged to do more. I'm challenged to sit in their "space" (which is really our space on loan) and talk to them when they don't feel like talking. I'm challenged to hug and kiss them when they think that it's "gross". I'm challenged to speak life into them when they don't want to hear it. I'm challenged to pray for them even when I'm at the peak of my frustration and on the verge of giving up.

If we want to see something different in this generation, we are ALL (with children or not) called to do something! I've seen enough of our young girls and boys giving in to society's way of reckless living. We've read about it, talked about it, shaken our heads about it, and seen movies about it, but now, it's time to change it. It's time to step up and live our lives worth something they can look up to and aspire to be. It's time to stop going to the club with them, cursing them out, drinking with them and start teaching them how to clean up after themselves, be disciplined and accept correction from authority when given. Teach them how to be men and women of integrity and character and how to love and respect those of the opposite sex. BUT, can we teach them what we have not mastered?



Heart Thought: Titus 2

Taking Inventory

As I was praying, petitioning God for "more" of the things I need in my life, he told me to "take inventory".

I remember working at a retail store in my earlier years. Inventory was an all day process. We would actually close the store early to allow us to get everything done without distractions. To prepare for new inventory for the upcoming season, we had to give account for what we already had in the store. We were also to include damaged and stolen goods.

With that being said, I realized that in order to get some new things "shipped in" for my new season, I first have to be willing to be thankful for what I received in my previous season. I received what I needed for that time in my life and it was good. Secondly, I must realize where I am now and what I need for the season I am currently in. For instance, when you were 18 years old asking God for a good person to "hang with", has totally changed at 30! If you're single, and desire marriage, your prayers are surely not someone to just "hang around"!

The point is, taking inventory of what God has already done in our lives is important as we prepare for more. It's good to sit back and see how gracious, how amazing, and how merciful He's been to "stock goods" regardless of where we are or have been in our lives.

To see the miracle of the things He's already brought to past guarantees that He is faithful to do it again!

Prayer Paralysis

About two weeks ago, I was sharing some ideas and dreams with my husband and explaining to him how I wanted to pursue them. Then, I said my famous words, "I need to pray and ask God what to do with it." He looked at me and said, "Okay baby, just don't get prayer paralysis". Those words stuck with me and ring very strong in my heart and mind as I realize more and more that I've prayed so much that I haven't done anything! I'm not discounting prayer, because it is needed, but we have to DO something afterwards. The Bible says it very clearly in James 2:26, "Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works." (NLT)

Sometimes the question isn't if, but when!

Paralysis: a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act

Be You, but...

"Just do you!"

"I'm going to do Me!"

That seems to be the anthem that rings from coast to coast as people are finding more and more ways to cover and excuse some of the behaviors that are sometimes unethical and inexcusable. In a world where we affirm that it's okay to be ourselves, we dismiss the fact that we also need to be open for correction and improvement. No one wants to be told by someone that something is not appropriate or it's just wrong, but it is necessary for growth.

I'd be the first to say that I am easily offended when someone tells me something is wrong because internally I'm thinking that it's an attack on my character. I couldn't be more wrong. While I'm thinking that I've done my best in an area, their thinking, "Yes, you did and it's awesome, but here's how to make it better." I am grateful for this lesson (although it's been a hard one) because I've opened myself up to do better, live better and dream bigger.

Don't be so quick to "do you" that you aren't open to someone else's wisdom and guidance in a situation. Saying that we can't accept what someone else has to offer says that we are perfect and we have all the answers. Basically, we are saying that we are God...and my friend, we are far from being Him.