Beba’s Blog

Prayer Walking

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:13:07 -0500

I went walking around the church parking lot today while my boys rehearsed with their youth band for their youth service. I had no spiritual reason for walking around the church’s parking lot; I simply thought I’d make good use of the two hours while they practiced. It was a good workout, and by that I mean, there were no hills to climb!

During my walk, I found out that prayer walking still works! I put on my earphones and listened to worship music while I walked and prayed and that was definitely time well spent.

I was introduced to prayer walking when I was as a little girl going through ritualistic processions around the crowded streets of the town I grew up in. These processions were sometimes intense and dramatic, and other times solemn and mournful.

Of course, I was too young to understand the impact of prayer walking, but as I grew older, other opportunities came in which I was able to learn and understand how beautiful and powerful prayer walking can be.

I remember some years back on one of my trips to Romania, a group of children took some of our group for a hike through the fields and up to a mountain. I found it most enlightening! I began to look around at the beautiful trees, flowers, rocks, and even the cow dung, and everything felt so real, and organic, I felt as though everything around me was pulsating with unadulterated life. I couldn’t help myself, I closed my eyes and drank in the air and without effort began to praise God.

There was no point to our walk other than to go up a mountain and then come down, but I felt as though God had called us to the mountain and we had responded by simply showing up. I couldn’t help but love Him more during that walk! We picked berries on the way back and I smiled to myself knowing I had already tasted of the Lord’s goodness.
A couple of years later, I went on a very different type of prayer walk. This time I was in Trinidad & Tobago on a mission’s trip. Prayer walking was a big part of our program during our work there. This time we walked around the village/city and interceded for the community. God gave us many opportunities to witness to people during our walk. It was an intense and powerful time of ministry for us.

I still take walks, mostly for healthy reasons, but prayer is always a part of my walks. I find that when I am walking -be it for healthy or spiritual reasons, I get to spend that time with God. There are no interruptions, phone calls, or meetings to take care of. It is just me and my God going for a walk together, where we listen to what each other has to say and we simply enjoy each other’s company

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Jesus, Man’s Savior)

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 16:18:51 -0500

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” - Isaiah 7:14

The prophet Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus long before the account of Jesus’ birth in the gospels and when you read it, you can’t help but feel elated to see how it all fell into place about 700 years after the time of Isaiah.

O come, O come, Emmanuel is a translation of the Catholic Latin text "Veni, veni, Emmanuel" by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century. Its origins are unclear. The text is based on the biblical prophesy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel (Lit.: God with us). Matthew 1:23 states fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. (from Wikipedia)

This is probably one of the most solemn Christmas songs we hear every year during the holiday season. I find it interesting that while this carol is sung all over the world as nothing more than a Christmas song; people are in fact singing a prophetic message that has been fulfilled.

There is power in spoken words, and more specifically, there is power in spoken words that are prophetic in nature. What people don’t realize is that every time they sing this song, they are in fact proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God incarnate; the messiah. This is a song of proclamation as well as a song of hope! Just read the words below,

O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

While I was doing some research for this article, I came across this little fact from bibleprophecy.com about the mystery in the dreidel, which is like a spinning top the Jewish children play with during the celebration of Hanukah.

The dreidel has 4 Hebrew letters on its faces, each standing for a word and a number value. The meaning of the 4 words is "A GREAT SIGN HAPPENED THERE." Their numerical value is 358.

The ancient rabbis pursued the science of gematria, which derives meaning from the numerical value of words. A rabbi so trained would look for the meaning of the value 358. There are three distinct uses of that value in the Bible, which refer to the Messiah. The first is the Hebrew word translated "messiah" at Dan. 9:25. It has a numerical value of 358.

In Genesis 49:10 is a prophecy which uses "Shiloh" to refer to the messiah. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah...until Shiloh comes." (Genesis 49:10) The ancient rabbis agreed that "Shiloh" refers to the Messiah and the value of yeba Shiloh, "Shiloh comes", is 358. "The scepter" here refers to kingly rulership, which departed from Judah in 70 A.D. Thus the Messiah must have come before then. Of course, Jesus did. Shiloh has come!

A third use of a messianic word for Messiah with a value of 358 is nachash. This word means "serpent" at Numbers 21:9 and Jesus used it to refer to Himself at John 3:14. ("Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must also be lifted up.") Thus we can see God's purpose in providentially allowing the dreidel numbers to equal 358. The meaning of the words "A GREAT SIGN HAPPENED THERE" must refer to the Messiah. This phraseology would instinctively lead a Jew to Isaiah's prophecy:

"The Lord Himself will give you a SIGN: Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel, God with us! Matthew uses this prophecy to refer to Jesus' birth, in Bethlehem. Thus the great sign is the virgin birth of God (for Immanuel means "God with us", Matt. 1:23). A great sign indeed!!! Our minds are dull and slow to fathom this wonderful thing. (BibleProphecy.net)

What a great little –big fact! I second the thoughts of bibleprophecy.com, “our minds are dull and slow to fathom this wonderful thing”. The people cried out for a savior, and as a response, God sent his son into the world. From now on, every time you hear or sing this Christmas carol, remember, that this is isn’t just a solemn, holiday song, but this is a proclamation of the greatest gift to mankind; a savior!

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel!

Have You Ever Been Desperate?

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 08:50:55 -0400

Have You Ever Been Desperate?
By Beba Schlottmann

It seems like the entire world is desperate these days. For the looks of it, we are a society were women live desperate lives whether rich or poor, slim or obese, healthy or unhealthy, new moms as well as empty nesters; women are desperate! I often wonder though, what is it they are so desperate about?

Not long ago, Desperate Housewives, an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry, aired on ABC. The story follows the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor, as they work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their—at the surface—beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood. Since its premiere on ABC on October 3, 2004, the show has been well received by the critics as well as the audience. The show is a multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner, and in April 2007 it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million viewers (wikipedia).

Not long after, another show aired (this time a reality TV show), The Real Housewives of Atlanta, on the Bravo cable television network. This one premiered in the Fall of 2008 and it is the network's third series in this format, following The Real Housewives of Orange County and The Real Housewives of New York City. The series follows the professional, social and family lives of five women who live in the suburbs of Atlanta (wikipedia).

Along with all the “desperate” shows that seem to be captivating our attention these days; there are shows like Sex in the City, Sons of Anarchy, House, Ghost Whisperer, and even the BBC drama, Being Human –all about people desperate to find love, hope, restitution, humanity and happiness. There are many more shows that cater to that desperate audience but these shows are not meant to give answers or fill a void. They are simple tools of entertaining, as they are fiction for them most part. These shows are intended to serve as a pause in the midst of the chaos real people face daily; like a band aid on an open wound –it doesn’t heal, but it protects the wound for a while.

Merryan Webster’s Dictionary describes Desperation as:

a : having lost hope <a desperate spirit crying for relief>
b : giving no ground for hope <the outlook was desperate>

When I was a young girl, I remember watching the beauty contests on TV where 95% of the contestants when asked what they wish for in life, would always reply, “peace on earth.” Even countries at war in the midst of their turmoil cry out for what else: peace! Is interesting to watch the news and see the hollow expressions of the people ravaged by war. They desperately want and pray for peace, but their faces give away their true feelings; peace has left the building!

Women use television, romance novels, clubs and fellowships in order to fill a void; their need for hope and peace. At the root of it all, we are desperate because we see peace as an unattainable dream; a wish upon a star we don’t really believe will come true. Ramona L. Anderson (MS, ABD, is Vice-President as well as Chief Technology Officer and R & D Director for AGI, Inc) once said; “People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.” I truly believe it is in the depth of our souls where we find fulfillment through a real and an honest relationship with our maker.

How do we get this peace? The word of the Lord says in Romans 5:1 (New International Version), Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…mankind has been in turmoil since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden but it was God’s plan from the beginning to bring back the communion that was broken. It was through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross that we were given that connection with our loving father once again. Don’t you think it appropriate that the message of the angels at the birth of Christ more than 2,000 years ago was “Peace on Earth and goodwill to all mankind?” That is a powerful statement! Peace is the only weapon that can stop a war; fix broken relationships, relax our nervous anxieties, give hope to the hopeless and calm the rage inside all of us. Peace governed the garden and now it can be ours once again through Christ’s sacrifice. Peace, peace, wonderful peace!

I heard two pilgrim quotes I thought were great:

"This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love."  -- Peace Pilgrim.

"The way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things."  -- Peace Pilgrim

Yes, we are living in desperate times where the world tries to show us the way to a peaceful life, however, the world’s view is limited and faulty. God’s way is the most excellent way.

Isaiah 26:3 (New International Version)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Romans 15:13 (New International Version)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

Some Things Just Fall Into Place Perfectly

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 22:10:45 -0400

When I was a young girl, I was afflicted with an illness which perplexed the doctors. They could not figure out what was wrong, though they could see the symptoms. It was for all accounts and purposes a “mystery”.

It was around 1984-85, in the small town of Vega Baja in Puerto Rico. I began to experience headaches and joint pains that would incapacitate me at times. My joins would swell up and the pain was unbearable. My mother took me to so many doctors to try and find a cure, but all the tests would come back “inconclusive”. I remember that there were days, I would be in so much pain, my mom would call our pastor to come over to the house to pray for me. I always felt better afterwards but I was not healed.

Around that time, God had been dealing with my dad about a call to pastor a church. An opportunity came to us in the most unusual way…One day a friend of the family introduced my dad to a Bishop from the United States who had come to the island with a mission to find a pastor for a struggling church in the state of Connecticut. Our friend felt my dad was the right man for the job, and thus the meetings began. I remember the last meeting in the living room of our home, like it was yesterday. My father told the men of God, that he didn’t have any experience being a pastor, but he was available for anything God wanted him to do. There were many obstacles to get over but God made a way by removing each roadblock.

One of the main concerns for my parents was my illness. They were told that Connecticut was a very cold state and the cold would be bad for my condition and that I would be in constant pain. There was also a concern about my father being so young in the faith and then there were the finances and the language barrier, among other things. But God had a plan. My mother told my father to go. She said, this is a God thing and we cannot ignore it. We prayed together that evening and God confirmed this great change for the Miranda family.

My heart ached with fear and uncertainty.

My father left 3 months ahead of us; while we sold everything we owned and made all the preparations to move. It was hard to leave our friends and family and especially our precious church, but God was calling and we had to follow. Our first months in our new home were filled with both anxiety and excitement. Everything was new; the language, the people, the church and the schools. Eventually, we adjusted to our new life by allowing God to lead every step we took on our new journey. We wanted comfort and security, but God had other plans. He allowed us to be as uncomfortable as one can be and taught us to wait on him and to trust him wholeheartedly. There were hard lessons learned and many moments of despair and confusion. But we remained faithful.

It wasn’t but many years later, when we were reminiscing about our early years in Connecticut that we remember I was supposed to be either cripple or dead by now. The truth is, in all the years we spent in Connecticut until now, I haven’t had a single episode of chronic pain or swelling of my joins. God healed me and He did it in the most unusual way. He simply removed us from our homeland, to a land that was unknown to us and through our obedience and process of learning to trust him, He healed my body.

I’ve learned many lessons in my years as a follower of Christ. I’ve cried many tears when the road ahead was tough and laughed out loud when God made a miraculous way out of humanly impossible situations. But that healing still puzzles me to this day. No one laid hands on me or anointed me to be healed. I didn’t feel a tingling sensation in my bones or healing power rushing through my body. I felt nothing. I was sick one day, and the next, I was healed!

I’m amazed at the intricate way God works out his plan for each of us. He wasn’t concerned with the significant sacrifice of moving our family out of our homeland into a new land we were unfamiliar with; he wanted our obedience and we proved Him by sticking to the plan He set before us. Were we sure of every step we took? Absolutely not! I can assure you, when God calls, the road is never easy. You will experience all kinds of emotions and times when your faith will be challenged, but if you stand your ground and obey; you will see the salvation of God come quickly to rescue you and protect you on the journey. There is absolutely nothing outstanding about my story, other than the fact that God called my family, we obeyed and things just fell into place.

Distractions, Interruptions... Order!

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:58:09 -0400

Some years ago I wrote this little poem about distractions. At the time I was in the middle of a very busy and stressful schedule and felt I was going to lose my mind. Instead of lashing out at those around me out of frustration or instead of having a breakdown, I put my thoughts to ink and paper. This has proven to be my most helpful approach.

It’s amazing how much you can encourage your own self by simply taking a time out to organize the thoughts and emotions that could easily influence how you deal with life. When you have order in your life, things seem to fall into place and you hear clearly from God, but let's be honest, order doesn't come easily for those of us who are constantly on the go.

I don't claim to have a magical prescription for a stress free life, but here are my top 5 suggestions for a more stress-free daily routine:

• Do not neglect your Devotional time. You can do all things through Christ and He is more than willing to help you get through everything but you need to spend time with him for guidance, direction and order in your life. I can't think of a more peaceful time in my life than when I am at the feet of the master enjoying his presence.
• Work on a Personal Schedule. If you work on getting yourself on a schedule, you will find things are going to be less chaotic in your home, work and in every aspect of your life. There are many ways to work on your schedule; calendar, day planners, cell phone (many cell phones now have calendar and organizational software you can have with you at all times, for example, the Iphone can carry all your contact information, email, internet, work software like Microsoft office, calendar, etc...), among others. I have regular family meetings with my family where I type a schedule of chores and I thoroughly go through it in order for everyone to understand what my time limitations will be at specific times and it helps keep everyone on task.
• Ask for help. One thing we fail to do many times is simply to ask for help. If you have older children living at home, have them help with the younger ones in order to free you up for other things that need to get done. Train your older children to cook, wash, and do other things that are usually expected for "Super-Mom" to do. Ask friends to come and help with one-time big projects (you'd be surprise how much people enjoy helping out each other). Ask your husband to help lighten the load wherever he is able to without adding more stress to his own schedule. Remember, the point is to have order not chaos.
• Take regular Time Outs. Don't just take a time out when you feel upset or overwhelmed, but make it a habit to take time out just to be by yourself for the purpose of doing absolutely nothing but relaxing.
• Have fun! Who says your daily schedule has to be all work and no play? When I do my least favorite house chore (laundry), I put on some rocking music and sing along -I even throw in a few dancing moves here and there while doing my chores. You could even put on your ear piece and make phone calls while you clean house - that is the hit two birds with one stone approach...some times I bake while working on a project – nothing makes you work faster than the smell of freshly bakes cookies!

There are Several scriptures I want to leave with you to help get your routine going:

Psalm 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 22:19 But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Distractions
by Beba

Distractions, distractions, distractions
Just like yesterday, they are here again
No matter the time of day, shape or form
They’ll drag me out of my comfort zone

A needy friend that just couldn’t wait
A pile of bills that must be paid
Loud sounds from my neighbor’s stereo
My children starving for my attention

Distractions, distractions, distractions
Today I’m lacking compassion
Throughout the day and in the night
I’m yelling quietly in my mind

Should I disappear while doing errands?
Seems unfair to give in to daily demands
What if there’s something lacking in me?
If I sift through the chaos, what would I see?

Distractions, distractions, distractions
Is the static a reminder to take action?
What if by giving my time away
I’m helping someone on the way?

Though there are things I can't control
Those I can, I must
I’m learning to stand still and know
To recognize the voice that calms my storms

The Dangers of Homogenizing

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:38 -0400

I was listening to the Yolanda Adams Radio Show in the morning and her DJ partner, Brother Larry and she while they were talking about dominion. They were sharing their thoughts on people who neglect to walk in the authority they have received by God, first by forgetting that we were given dominion from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden and then through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

That struck a chord with me because I know for myself, even though I know I am wonderfully and fearfully made by God almighty, I still sometimes walk in fear. Why is that? If dominion was given to us by God himself and if through the Holy Spirit we are also given power to trample over all the attacks and schemes of the enemy, why do many of us live in defeat?

A good example of that is found in the sad story of King Saul in the Old Testament. Here we find the first king of Israel; a great warrior, fearless, strong, and humble. Saul was given the kingdom and dominion of Israel, yet he fell short. In Merriam Webster’s dictionary, the verb, homogenize is described as: to blend (diverse elements) into a uniform mixture. That is in essence what Saul did; he “homogenized” himself to his people until eventually he lost himself and his identity. Saul was more concerned about what the people’s songs said about him than giving God glory for victories won.

The irony of the story is that Saul began his reign as a humble and righteous king and ended his reign as stubborn and ungrateful as the people he was leading. When we blend ourselves to others, we will, if not careful, intensify their weaknesses and take on their negative habits. What a sad legacy he left behind; a failure of a man who had the greatest power given to a king but rejected it all by homogenizing with his people and his enemies until the anointed man, Saul disappeared completely.

We see this same behavior in many relationships today. For example, there is a fine line we walk when we come together as one with our spouses. We are commanded by God to become one; this is in fact very biblical. But God does not intend for us to lose our voice and our uniqueness. I heard my husband talking with a young lady (who is about to get married) about this recently, and he gave her a great example of a relationship that is homogenized. He said; “When you buy a three layer cake and eat it, what is it about that cake that made you want to eat it? It was obviously the fact that it looks so delicious. Now take the same cake and put it in a blender, and then serve it…It does not create the same reaction as before, does it? Is it a different cake? No. Did you add other ingredients? No. It is the same cake as before, the only difference is that now it has been blended until you cannot recognize it’s original form. What once made the cake desirable--the unity of the layers, frosting, and sprinkles and their interaction with one another--is now lost in a unrecognizable shake.

We have to be cautious as we get close to others and as we form new relationships, that we do not lose what made us who we are. We all have a voice, and a unique personality and we have been given power and a purpose. Do not allow the enemy to drown your voice or to make you feel inferior. I heard Yolanda Adams say that everything starts with a decision. Decide today that your voice will be heard and that you will walk in righteousness and in the power that is rightfully yours by God’s commission.

Just a few days ago, my husband was giving my youngest son fatherly advice. He said, “Son, success is measured by the amount of your potential that you fulfill.” That is good advice. If we allow ourselves to become obscure and silent we will never reach our full potential and fail miserably in trying to achieve success in every area of our lives.

To Be a Part of Something Great

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:07:53 -0400

When I was a teenager in high school, I remember wanting desperately to be a part of the school choir. I knew I could try out if I wanted to, but because I was still learning how to speak English, I felt I didn't stand a chance. It was during my senior year that something amazing happened to me. I went to the choir room one day with a friend of mine to rehearse for a song I wanted to do for an oral presentation I had to do for one for my classes. She agreed and we started practicing. Unbeknown to me, the director of the choir and of the small ensemble was in her office nearby listening to us. Well let me just say that just like it would have happened in a movie, at the end of the rehearsal, she came out and praised our sound and before I knew it I had joined not only the school choir but now I was a member of the elite "Madrigals" ensemble. Wohoo! I cannot begin to tell you what that day meant to me. I had allowed my own fears and self imposed limitations to keep me from being a part of something I truly loved that was not unreachable at all.

My experience with the Madrigals was amazing and sadly short-lived as it was my senior year, but I truly believed being able to participate in that group encouraged me to pursue a degree in music and become involved in other singing groups, and in leading worship for some great churches and events. Because I was able to be a part of something good, I ended up being a part of something great!

I believe there are people all over the world crying out to belong. They desperately want to be a part of something meaningful, something tangible, successful and great! Case in point, There is an interesting article on MSN Entertainment about Michael Jackson’s memorial service, (Click this link:http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=419844). As I read it I had images floating on my mind of the events that led to the memorial service I had watched the day before. Here is an excerpt from that article:

The emerging mythology — that the communications explosion that followed Jackson's death almost "broke the Internet" — suggests both the emergence of new communities and the hunger for some kind of mass public square of sentiment. "People want to be a part of something. And this is something really memorable. Why did everybody go to Woodstock?" asked Rosemary Hornak, a psychology professor in North Carolina who studies how people remember.

I remember that while I watched the beautiful program something interesting struck a chord with me; the images of sobbing kids and moms holding to their programs for dear life kept popping on the screen, fading into images of grown men wearing T-shirts with MJ’s pictures and crying like little boys. There were life size dolls of MJ, a mural for people to leave their sentiments and signatures, an elephant entourage, celebrities, music, tears and smiles. Wow! What an amazing display of love, admiration and unity…

Even in the midst of sadness and inspiration, I couldn't help but to think of all those people who seemed lost and hungry for something to replace what they'd lost, perhaps hungry for hope...They are looking for a new role model; already going through a list of prospects in their minds. I don’t know exactly what people want to see happen next, but it is obvious community is a big part of it. I also know without a doubt, we all need Jesus today more than ever before!

Say what you may, but you cannot deny the powerful message of seeing the black man and the white woman sharing a tearful embrace, or the politician and the minister shaking hands while sharing a program, or the celebrity and the child holding hands while singing a song of unity. People are hungry for community, and they are desperate to belong; to be a part of something unique.

That is where the church needs to be like a city on a hill, shinning its light brightly so that all the desperate souls bellow can find their way home to the arms of a loving God. We spend so much time thrashing one another and complaining about the things we don’t like about the church, that we obscure the message of salvation. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 3:17 (New International Version - UK)

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but so that the world through him might be saved!" 
So what are we doing? How are we keeping His (Jesus) message alive? The world needs purpose; Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the life! (John 14:6). The world needs joy; In the bible we read that he gives joy unspeakable! The world says they need love and we the church must remind them; For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life! (John 3:16)

I believe I am a part of something great! I’m a part of an amazing movement to stir the hearts of men to knowledge of the saving grace of Christ Jesus, a movement to encourage men and women; young and old, to live a life that is pleasing to God. I’m a part of a movement that teaches our young ones to love and honor that which is righteous...A movement to believe all things are possible to those who believe.

I don't know about you, but sign me up if that is what God is offering. Leave the hatred, religion, accusations, envy, and pride behind; I want to be a part of a community of good doers. I don't want to roam through this earth trying to figure out what my purpose is; I have a heavenly father who knows me and loves me still. Everything about God is amazing! Everything He does is eternal! Everything He says is true! Why would I look somewhere else? The Apostle Peter once said; "Lord to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life (John 6:68)  
I want to stand for that! I want to belong to a community that believes like that! I want to be a part of that tribe; how about you?

It’s Been In You All Along

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:57:54 -0400

Last night I watched a sweet little modern day fairy tale about a girl named Penelope (written by Leslie Caveny). She was born to a wealthy family who had a dirty little secret; it seems her great, great, great grandfather fell in love with a servant girl. This relationship brought shame to his parents until, feeling the reproach of his family he decides to marry a beautiful aristocrat instead. The pregnant servant girl was devastated and jumps off a cliff to her death. Her mother then puts a curse on the wealthy family, that every descendant born a girl would have the face of a pig until the day one of her kind learns to love her until death just as she is…The following generations saw only boys to the relief of the family, until Penelope was born.

Penelope grows up to be this lonely heiress who spends her life trying to break the family curse by finding a suitor from her family blood line. Men of her kind are plenty but when they take a look at her pig nose, they run away in disgust. One day she meets a handsome and charming young man who falls in love with her. Of course, as with every fairy tale, there is a problem…He is not of her blood line and so he refuses to marry her because he knows she would be robbed of her chance to meet someone of her lineage that can break the spell. Everything in Penelope’s life comes to a boiling point when she finally realizes that she doesn’t want to continue searching for a way out of her situation, but instead, she accepts herself just as she is. And that’s when Penelope’s life turns around. The spell is broken, she goes searching for her prince charming and they live happily ever after.

I absolutely loved this little story, not because it is a fairy tale and I am a girl, or because James McAvoy is gorgeous, which he is! But because I saw a significant message in it that resonates with women I meet with regularly; self confidence and the lack thereof. Many of us girls will believe all the negative things people tell us about ourselves and will live our lives in confusion, obscurity and loneliness when that is not what God intended for us. We are so much more!

Penelope was beautiful, wealthy, refined, gifted and kind but she couldn’t see pass her deformity. She lived her life consumed with trying to fix the problem instead of looking inward and loving and accepting herself as the amazing person she was. Many women live their lives just like Penelope, looking for a quick fix or looking for love in all the wrong places; oblivious to what is in them all along.

God created us with a purpose. He made us after His own image and placed us where we are for reasons that go beyond our family traditions, dirty secrets, lineage, or looks. We are His and He is ours, what curse can come against that? There is nothing on this earth that has been spoken over your life (be it by words or by actions) that could ever separate you from your creator and in any way, shape or form destroy what God has purposed for your life even before your birth.

No devil or demon could ever foil God’s plans for your life, but they will try. The world in all its wickedness and arrogance will tell you that you are ugly, unwanted, unworthy and broken. But God tells you, “look deep within and you will see my mark in you.” “You belong to me and I love you as you are!” David understood this when he said in Psalm 8:4-6:

Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings? You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor. You let us rule everything your hands have made. And you put all of it under our power.”

If you have not seen this movie, I hope I have not spoiled it by telling you much of the plot. I felt I needed to share this little golden nugget with you today. Please don’t forget that you are loved by the one who matters most and that everything you need in order to live a fulfilled and successful life has been placed in you by your heavenly father – it’s been in you all along!

I leave you with a scripture I find most inspiring on days when I look at myself in the mirror and see something other than what God sees. It is found in the book of Isaiah 43:1-4 (The Message translation). I love this translation and want you to pay close attention to the very last line. How awesome is it to be loved like that?

But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end—because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.

The Power of Listening

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:42:24 -0400

If I was Paul or if I had anything to do with the writings in the New Testament, I would have added a whole lot of extra gifts to the line up of spiritual gifts. I am one of those people who truly believes we have all been gifted by God with some talent, whether we choose to exercise it or not and somehow nine gifts just doesn't cover all the wonderful creativity and God given talents I have seen displayed by people all over the world. God truly has an amazing, beautiful mind and His ways are... well, amazingly higher and mysterious.

There are many learned talents out there and there are many God given talents carved within us probably before birth. I find that the talent of listening is one I particularly need. Most people tend to lean towards the most popular talents like singing, speaking, healing, prophesying, and the list goes on. But what about the talents that will require us to spend time with the unwanted? Could you see yourself doing that which would demand your time and focus on someone that's annoying, ornery, hateful, and just plain ugly? Somehow I can hear crickets chirping...

I have to confess, I have a hard time listening to people at times. I don't necessarily enjoy having to sit for long periods of time listening to some lost soul telling me their life story in hopes that at the end of their spill I can give them an antidote for whatever ails them. Is hard to sit through painful conversations or to deal with people who just don't seem to be able to get over their past or get on with their lives after some climactic event. How compassionate does that sound, for a minister's wife? I'm just being honest. Sometimes I don't have the patience or the stamina to hear the same stories over and over again. So what do I do? I tune out! Don't take me wrong, I don't go away and ignore needy people. I sit there and look at them and although thoughts of the lasagna I'm supposed to be baking in an hour float in and out of my mind, I make a great effort to give my undivided attention.

I know this all sounds very out of character for a woman in a leadership position, but hear me out; some of us just aren't gifted enough to sit through the soap operas that many people go through in life. I want to though, I really do. I so want to be that person who listens unconditionally and with utmost patience. I pray that God will make me that person and that He will fill my heart and soul with nothing but compassion for people who do not have it all together...People like me.

Maybe that's the problem...I see too much of me in the stories I hear. Or maybe the problem is that I don't have the answers they need and all I can do is hurt for them. It is very hard to listen to a young girl tell you about the sexual abuse she has been enduring by her own father and not feel a part of you bleed inside. It is equally hard to listen to a close friend tell you she is leaving her husband and children because she has fallen in love with another woman...How do I listen without judging and continue to love like Christ?

I want God to bless me with the gift of listening. Not for the sake of simply hearing stories, but for the purpose of encouraging and learning. I'm pretty sure every story has a unique twist that undoubtedly could impart some wisdom or warning to me as a human. I need to hear what God wants to say to me through people, and if I casually listen I may miss the message. How simple and yet complicated is this business of listening?!? In one hand it annoys me to no end while on the other hand I desperately seek for ways to understand what I am being told as if an ancient secret was waiting for me to decipher it.

Listening is an art and a gift, and for some, listening is an unwanted most do!

Barbara Brown Taylor in her book, Leaving Church makes a statement that resonates with me and one I want to share with you;

"When I went home at night, I drove past homeless people pushing their grocery carts down empty streets, and hospitals with all their windows lit. I carried with me all the stories I had heard that day, from the young woman who had just discovered that he baby she carried inside of her was deformed to the old man who had just lost his wife of fifty-seven years. I knew that I would hear more such stories the next day, and the day after that, with no healing power but the power of listening at my command."

Some times we are given great insight into people's lives through spiritual discernment, but sometimes all we are given is the power of listening. I'm learning as I sit and listen to people, that though I may not always know what to say, I can always pray for them. Perhaps God doesn't want me to say a thing at all. Could it be that God strategically placed you and me in the path of someone who needs a listening ear today, just so we can be there as a representative of Christ's love; Jesus with skin...When we listen, we plant a seed, then God takes over and completes the work.

Constantly Changing My Heart

Wed, 27 May 2009 19:30:53 -0400

I was listening to the song “Who You Are” by the contemporary Christian music group 4 Him. This has been a favorite song to me for some time now. I decided to recite the words to myself while listening to the song. There is just something about reciting the words to a meaningful song; it takes you beyond the melody to a deep place. Today, while listening to this song in my heart I could sense I was having a God and I moment.

If you'd like to hear the song and read the lyrics got to www.4him.net.

I almost choked up every time I got to the line…” Who You are is all I'll ever want to be..." Ever since I can remember I wanted nothing more than to be as close to God as humanly possible. But just as passionate as my desire for Him has been, so has my indifference been at times.

There are dark places in my heart I try to keep isolated from God as if He didn’t know or as if He couldn't see through the thick wall of pretensions, doubt, fear, and stubbornness, among other works of the flesh I sometimes cultivate, willing or unwillingly. Here's the thing; I say I love God and want to be like Him, but my behavior shows differently. I clearly understand Paul when he wrote in Romans 7:15 (New Living Translation)

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

The good news is; God is constantly changing my heart and bringing me out of those dark places, until I am closer to who He is and not to whom I am. Who I am can only bring me calamity and failure, but who He is will bring me honor and hope. I feel great comfort in my spirit when I think of the fact that when I stand before God, it is His son’s righteousness that’ll cover me and make me acceptable to Him. We all know too well that our own righteousness is as filthy rags before our awesome God. It is because of Christ, God can look at you and me and not turn away in disgust and disappointment. Because of his righteousness we are even acknowledged.

American best selling author, Anne Lamott once said something interesting about grace; "I do not understand the mystery of grace-only that it meets us were we are but does not leave us where it found us (www.thinkexist.com)." That is God's grace; unmerited favor! It takes us wretched and broken and sets us up in high places. How overwhelmingly beautiful is that!

The fact that we have absolutely nothing of value to God and yet he desires fellowship with us, should make us want him more. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (New Living Translation) the Apostle Paul says,

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Again we see grace at work through Christ on our behalf. What an amazing gift we've been given in Christ! Because he took upon himself our sin, God is willing to draw us closer to who He is. It is indeed amazing to think that the God of the universe is constantly changing your heart in order to reveal more of himself to you and as a result to the world around you.