“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus is on this earth, becoming human and living among us for 33 years. He grows in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  He chooses his disciples, he walks with them and talks with them and teaches them, then he gives the greatest gift the world will ever receive–Himself! He suffers and dies a cruel death. But he is God, and death cannot hold him in the grave. He raises on the third day and appears to many. Then, as he is about ready to ascend into heaven to take his rightful place next to his Father, he speaks his last words to his disciples, and to us!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19

Out of all the words Jesus could have spoke, He chose these specific words to leave us with. These words are vital! When we believe in Jesus Christ, in his ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and accept him as Lord and Savior, we are saved!  We have a eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven forever. Then why are we still on this planet,  awaiting that glorious day? Because Jesus has given us a job to do. We are to go and shine his light to others and share the good news that he has brought to us and to the world.
There are many ways that we can do that–in our neighborhoods, in our families, in our schools–and on mission trips. I am blessed to be going on a mission trip to Temoaya, in Central Mexico. I leave in less than two days with my husband, and 39 other individuals from my church. We are blessed to partner with Compassion International in a work they have there.  It involves church planting and child sponsorship. My husband and I are excited to get to see our sponsored child Jocelin. And we get to meet her family!  We will also be building a playground, sharing a VBS, leading a marriage seminar, teacher training seminar, and the pastor leadership seminar. If it were not for the sacrifice, generous commitment, and gifts from our family and friends, this trip would not be possible for us. Our hearts are full of love, gratitude and thanks to those who have partnered with us and supported us in going on this trip.

Jesus tells us in his word that there are the Goers and there are Senders. Without the Senders, the Goers cannot go and without the Senders and the Goers partnering together, those who need to hear the good news of Jesus, would not be able to hear it.  

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Good News about Christ…And how can they hear, without someone preaching to them…And how can they preach unless they are sent?”  Romans 10:17, 14

As we leave this week to share the good news of Jesus with those into Temoaya Mexico, I ask for your prayers. We are in this together! Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “two are better than one,…”  Jesus sent out his followers two by two!  There is so much mutual encouragement and support when we go after God’s mission together!

TRUTH BOMB:

TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE!

I thank you for your prayers, I trust in them, and I know I cannot do this alone! But together and with God, all things are possible!

I look forward to sharing all that God does on this trip with you when I return!

Speak Truth Love

How many of you have ever been thrown a curve ball? You’re walking straight and confident in one direction, and you feel comfortable with that pace. You don’t have to overthink anything, your footing is sure, and your expectations are met. And then, it happens: life throws you a curve ball! You weren’t expecting it; your straight ahead paved path takes an unforeseen turn.

Last week we talked about “trustworthiness.” On being a person who is trustworthy, someone that people can rely on. But let’s be bluntly honest: as hard as we try, as good as a friend as we strive to be, we all fall short. At one time or another, we dropped the ball and let someone else down. There is One, however, who never falters: there is One on whom we can completely depend. There is One and only One whose trust we can take to the bank.

David sure had a lot of curve balls thrown at him. And he didn’t even play baseball! But he was a shepherd. One day, along came a lion. And another day, along came a bear. Totally unexpected curve ball, and very dangerous. Beyond David’s natural ability to overcome. He was a meager shepherd boy, the youngest of his brothers, sent out into the field to care for his father’s flocks. It was certainly not by his own physical strength or natural ability that he was able to overcome these mortal threats. Check out David’s confidence in going to face Goliath:

“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”  I Samuel 17:34-37

Because David had experienced God’s trustworthiness to come to his rescue and save him before, he had all confidence that God would vindicate this Israelite young soldier to defeat a blaspheming pagan challenger. And you know the story: God came through for him!

In Psalm 28:7 David proclaims, “The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in Him with all my heart.”

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

When I was in college, I used to drive back and forth between my grandparent’s home in Arizona, and Pacific Christian College in Fullerton, California. Basically it was a 7-8 hour drive, with not much but a whole lot of desert in between. On one trip I was returning, alone, from my grandparent’s house. I think I was somewhere in the middle, between Blythe and Indio. My car started to overheat, and steam began to pour out from under the hood. I was frightened and alone. I pulled over to the side of the road, but I didn’t want to lift up my hood, because I was afraid of who might stop and help me. I leaned my head forward on my steering wheel, and prayed,

“God, please help me, and keep me safe.”

Immediately, I looked up into my rearview mirror and I saw a semi truck about 200 feet behind me. No one else was in sight. And then, in my peripheral vision, I caught a small sedan in view that pulled directly in front of me and stopped. It was like it literally came out of nowhere. There was nothing but the semi truck in my rearview mirror. I had a peace that came from my trust in God, and I knew I was safe. There were two people in the front seat. The driver got out and asked me if I needed help. I never saw the passenger, only a shadow. The driver immediately lifted the hood, put his hand straight down in and pulled up a broken belt. He handed it to me and said, “Here is your problem. There is an exit about a mile and a half ahead. Wait till your car cools down, and you should be able to drive over there and get some help.” I was elated! I knew God had sent me an angel! I said, “Thank you so much!” He closed the hood, and said, “May God bless you.” And I said, “He already has!”

We both got back in our cars. He pulled forward and left. I shut the door of my car, locked it, and said, “Thank you Jesus, so much for helping me!” I looked up and back into my rearview mirror, and this same car was behind me again. There was no way he could have driven up to the next exit, turned around, and made it back behind me in such a short time. He pulled around in front of me, and I knew God and sent him back. God taught me a valuable lesson that day: not only to trust Him completely, but also to give Him the glory when He blessed me. The passenger remained a still shadow in the front seat, and the driver came around to me again. He opened up his trunk, and in it he had a tow rope. He hooked it to the back of his car, and to the front of my car, and he said, “I’ll tow you to the station at the next exit.” And he did.

“But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

I put my trust in my God when I was 19 years old and afraid. And my God proved trustworthy! He kept me safe and took care of me.

So what about you? What is your bear? What is your lion? What happens when life throws you a curve ball, and the path you’ve been walking takes an unexpected turn? Can you say, like David,
“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.” Psalm 13:5

“I trust in you, my God. Do not let me be disgraced.” Psalm 25:2

“Commit everything you do to the Lord [even if it is a new way] : trust Him and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5

Truth Bomb:

Bear, lion, or giant; you can trust in the Lord: He will never fail you!

When your bear turns into a lion, or when your lion turns into a 9 foot Philistine, do you put your trust in the Lord? Do you allow Him to be as big and powerful for you in your life as he was for David? As He was for me? You can always truth in the Lord, He has and will continue to prove Himself trustworthy! 

Speak Truth Love

Who do you trust?

When I think of trust, I can’t separate it from “trustworthiness.”
Trustworthiness is a virtue attributed to people.
I can trust in my car when I get in it to take me from point A to point B.
However, there is no guarantee that it isn’t going to break down, or God forbid, I get in an accident and don’t make it to “B” after all. But because my car has been reliable, I trust daily that when I get into it, it will take me where I need to go.

I also trust that when I put my feet on the floor in the morning, I’m going to be able to stand. I trust that when I open my mouth, my vocal chords will work, and sound is going to come out. I trust also that my Cuisinart Coffee Maker, programmed the night before, is going to be brewing my coffee to perfection, and be waiting for me by the time I wake up. The aromatic fragrance hits my nose, even though I’m in the bedroom and it is in the kitchen. I trust and rely on these things each and every morning I wake up. I don’t think about them and their reliability. I just act on them, because they have been reliable.

But putting my trust in people comes at a much higher risk. My coffee pot may stop working, and several times in my life I have had to replace it. It causes me to make an emergency run to Starbucks to kick start my morning. But it does not hurt my feelings; it does not leave emotional scars.

Unlike a personal relationship with family or friends. I get up early, I clear my schedule, I anticipate sharing my cup of coffee with her, and not drinking it by myself. I look forward to the conversation we will have, the laughs we will share, and the fun we will encounter together that day. But then, my cell phone makes that sound that all of our cell phones make: eeehhhhh! Or blooooodooo-dee-doo! I receive a text message, and she cancels on me. Is it a valid reason? Do I get to judge on the validity of her reason? Is this the first time, or does this happen again and again? Is it a trust issue in this relationship? Regardless, I am disappointed. And a piece of me, whether it stems from insecurity or some other issue, begins to lose trust.

We have all been there, and the shoe can certainly be on the other foot. Or more accurately, the shoe can be on my foot. How trustworthy am I?
Within our current culture lies a deep-rooted value: I will do something if it fits into my schedule, if I have had enough rest, and if something “better” doesn’t come along. I mean, I may be speaking boldly here, but truthfully, we can all be “sick” every day in this crazy, busy driven life that we lead. Am I willing to put aside my comfort level to give my best, to give my all, to others? Am I not only expecting a relationship of trust, but am I giving and living a relationship of trust?

We say, “Treat others the same way you would like to be treated.” Am I willing to live the Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12, and develop a life of trust?

If any of us have any hope of being that trustworthy friend to another, or being that mom, or being that wife, or being that sister, or being that faithful daughter, we must lean on the One who embodies and defines trust.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a verse familiar to most of us. For me, recently, this verse has come alive. God was speaking to me clearly when He brought this powerfully into my life a couple of months ago.

“Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Our heart in the Scriptures refers to the deepest part of our innermost self. He was asking me, and He is asking you, to trust in Him completely, with every single facet of me that I am. In my spirit, and in my devotion to Him, in my job and in my ministry, and with my family, and every personal relationship. Not because I can clearly see what lies ahead; but because I trust in the God who does see clearly what is ahead for me. My understanding—your understanding—only goes as far as we can figure something out.

God is clearly calling us here to let go of what we can’t clearly figure out, and to put our whole selves—all of our trust—in Him, to work all the details out.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him…”
Start out each and every day, giving Him this day, and giving Him your plans for this day, and allowing Him to make your plans His plans.
Tell Him out loud, or whisper in a prayer, that you trust Him to take care of any situation you find yourself in.
“And He will direct your paths.”
You may not see where He is leading you. But you can trust that the path He is leading you down is the right path for you.
Joseph certainly had his character and trustworthiness tested. In Genesis 39, a beautiful, powerful woman came after him to seduce him, and Joseph had a character-defining choice to make.

He said,
“My master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”     Genesis 39:8-9

Even when Potiphar was away, even when he knew no one else was looking and he might have got away with it, Joseph wasn’t going to fool around with his wife. Joseph knew that by being trustworthy to others, He was being trustworthy to his God. He was that reliable. He fled that unfaithful woman. Joseph let trustworthiness rule his life!
So, let’s go back to our date for coffee…when you agree to go and meet someone, even if it is “just for coffee”, fulfill your commitment. Do your best to demonstrate a life full of trustworthiness.
“Whoever is faithful in little matters, will also be faithful in bigger matters” Luke 16:10

And then, when it’s not just a coffee date, and your friend is in a crisis and really needs you, she will know to call you, because you have proven yourself trustworthy, again and again.

TRUTH BOMB:

Keeping your promises, even when it hurts, builds a character of trust.

Trust is a virtue that our culture may have lost hold of in this “take care of me first” world we live in. Let’s ask God to help us demonstrate trust to those we have a relationship with, by practicing trustworthiness each day. Remember Joseph, who made his goal in life, not to please himself, but to please his God. Even if it cost him a lot in the short run.

I hope you enjoy a lovely coffee date this week, and I continue to welcome your comments from last week, about what or who you are thankful for…

Speak Truth Love

Today, with a heart full of thanks, I want to share on thankfulness. After writing a 4 week series on motherhood, and being thankful for the legacy I was left, and the living legacy that goes on before me, I got to celebrate Mother’s Day. Not being in proximity to all those I love, but loved by all those that are near and dear to my heart, through their words, cards, gifts, phone calls, FaceTime, pictures and memories that will all stay in my heart forever, I find myself THANKFUL!

Thankfulness seems like a simple and possibly obvious topic.  But truthfully, I find myself, and maybe you do too, leaning toward grumbling and complaining far more often than I find myself leaning toward thankfulness.  My Grandma, whom I have shared about in detail, loved to sing, as I’m sure you remember by now.  One of her favorite hymns was “Count Your Blessings.”  The words scroll across my memory in the exact tune she used to sing it to me, in her sweet, high soprano voice.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one…count your many blessings, see what God has done!”

I hear those words in my mind each time that the grumbling and complaining comes. I know I should count my blessings.  I know I have more to be thankful for than I do to complain about.  Yet I often push that sweet voice out of my head, and give in to the grumpy mood that ensues with my grumbling and complaining attitude.  If the words from my grandmother aren’t enough, maybe the words from a song will be. It’s from one of my favorite movies, which occurs during my favorite time of year—Christmas—which occurs during my favorite season of the year—Winter—the Irving Berlin classic “White Christmas.” In this  song Bing Crosby croons to young Rosemary Clooney as he tries to win over her heart:  “When I’m worried, and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings, instead of sheep…and I fall asleep, counting my blessings.”

How many sleepless nights have we had?  How many needed hours of rest have we wasted, by worrying instead of being thankful?

If the words of my dear sweet Grammie and the famous words of Bing Crosby can’t sway me to focus on a heart full of thanks, then my only hope is to turn to my God, where I should always look first anyway!

Let’s do a Bible word search together on “thankful.”

I Thessalonians 5:18 (thanks, or give thanks): “…Give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 2:7: “…Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  

Ephesians 5:20: “…Always giving thanks to God the Father for EVERYTHING in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  

Colossians 3:15 draws a direct connection to being thankful and having peace. Here within lies the answer to the end of our sleepless nights.  “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and BE THANKFUL.”. 

 It is something we must DO.  It’s an action.  Being is not just sitting on the couch, and feeling sorry for myself. It’s not focusing on  what I do not have, or what I wish I had, or what I wish I did not have in my life!  No!  It is a sense of being.  It is who I choose to be, and how I choose to act.  It is something I must DO.  I am not to just give thanks, but I am to actually be thankful.  It calls us to a state of being.

What is our first reaction when something goes wrong?  Are we quick to get angry or complain or grumble?  I can be the first one to have this kind of attitude. So how do I curb it?  How do I “be” or “become” the thankful, peaceful person that God says I can be?

Colossians 4:2 gives us the answer.  “Devote yourselves to prayer, BEING WATCHFUL, [WAITING AND LOOKING FOR GOD TO MOVE], AND THANKFUL [ACTING ON WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR, BY BEING THANKFUL!].”

And then, the ultimate reason that we are thankful: the ultimate reason I can always have a heart of thankfulness and an innermost being that is thankful at my core: is the truth that is in Hebrews 12:28.  This is my truth, and it is also your truth!

“Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, [by anything that happens to me here on earth], let us BE THANKFUL and so worship God acceptably, with reverence and awe.”

 Truth Bomb: Every day, regardless of our circumstances, we can give thanks for our assured eternal hope that we have in Christ.  

Let’s share our thanks together and start a habit of thankfulness.  Statistics tell us that anything repeated over and over becomes a habit.  I have a habit of drinking delicious strong roasted coffee every day.  What if every time I tipped that cup of steaming hot deliciousness to my lips, before I let the flavor settle on my taste buds, I would “be a person who lifts a word of thanks before I took that sip?”

So let’s practice it together this week.  In the comments section, write something, or more than one thing, that you are thankful for. No wrong answer here!  Share it from your heart. Do not overthink it or worry about someone else’s response. Just give thanks!  Be thankful! We’ll do it together!

Speak Truth Love

Motherhood Series: A Four Generational Look at Motherhood

Week Four: ‘The Joy of Being A Mother To A Mother’

The Celebration of Motherhood is right around the corner. In less than one week from now we will celebrate MOTHER’S DAY! For almost 29 years now I have celebrated being a Mom with the two very special Moms in my life, my grandmother Lela, and my mom Linda. I loved being in their “club;” rejoicing with them, crying alongside them, and pulling my hair out asking them to help me regain my dignity. Yet, as wonderful as that time was, NOTHING has been as SPECTACULAR as the last four years have been!

On April 10, 2012, I was asked to do something that I have never been asked to do before. My daughter, with the permission of her husband, asked me to be in the delivery room with her as she gave birth to her first child!

I was truly honored and privileged by both my daughter and my son-in-law, for asking me to take part in such a miracle!  It was truly a gift they were giving me, and I had no idea how big and how special that gift was until the first moment I saw her face! My beautiful Camdyn Kaylyn! She was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. Her eyes were as blue as the northern sky, her cheeks were porcelain and perfect, and her lips looked like rosebuds! If you think that this Grammie is just exaggerating, you can ask any nurse on the floor in that hospital. They could not get over her, and neither could I! Her disposition matched her beauty. She was happy, content, and peaceful. She loved being held and cuddled-didn’t squirm or become anxious-she just seemed to love the life God had given her! And my life was changed from that moment on! Yes, it was changed in part by this beautiful little girl that would add to the generation of our legacy and become the fifth woman in line. But it was so much more than that, that changed my life forever. It was becoming a mother to a mother.

I’ve never read a book on that, never sang a song written about that, never read a poem about that or saw a print hanging on a wall celebrating that, yet it was, and is my greatest joy as a mother!

My beautiful baby girl, Christina Nicole, was my first born. She came into this world on May 22, 1987. She was beautiful just like her baby girl, and they looked a lot alike. Christina had brilliant blue eyes. In fact, after her birth my mom said, “You should change her name to Crystal, I have never seen such clear blue eyes!”

She had the same porcelain skin, and rose bud lips! Although they looked almost identical, my girl was born with a very different personality! She was bright-no let me change that-she was and is brilliant! From a very early age I knew she was smarter than I was. I just had to not let her know I knew that until she was ready to use the incredible intellect, the bright and brilliant character, and the generous, loving heart that God had given her!

If you think that I am exaggerating, if you think that these are just words from a proud mama, let me tell you a true story. My mother and mother-in-law came to the hospital the day Christina was born. Due to my “strong-willed daughter”, deciding to do a complete 90° flip inside of me the week before she was born, and turn bottom breech, they decided to schedule her arrival into this world with a C-Section. Therefore my mom could not be in the delivery room, but my mom and mother-in-law were anxiously waiting to view the little cherub as soon as they rolled her out from delivery! They both were aghast when they witnessed her roll to the side and grab the sides of her little plastic roll bed. One of them yelled, “Watch out, you are going to lose her!” The doctor had come into my room warning me, that due to my baby being born C-section, she would be more on the lethargic side. If that girl was lethargic, PRAISE GOD she was a C-section baby! This was a tell-talk sign of things to come. I spent the next 13 years making sure I “watched out, so that I wouldn’t lose her!” I was always trying to stay one step ahead of my beautiful, smart, spirited girl!

Then it happened. Something wonderful clicked, and we became best friends! It was the end of her eighth-grade year, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Something clicked in those beautiful crystal blue eyes, and connected in that gorgeous, brilliant brain of hers! She realized the love of a mother! Instead of seeing my boundaries for her as barriers to her will, she saw them as love and protection. The love of a mother, who wanted only the best for her.  Something happened from that point on that set her on a course to become the greatest mother I have ever seen!

The joy of becoming a mother to a mother is inexplicable! My daughter is the best mama I have ever witnessed! Even before her babies were placed in her arms, she began preparing. She never took the gift of motherhood for granted. She gave all the glory to her God, and then lived out her gratitude through her diligence, her commitment, her preparation, her hard work, her kind heart, her discipline, and her boundless love for her children!

She thought of every detail ahead of time, details I would’ve never thought of.  She read every book, prepared not only their outward world, but their inward world as well, with her mother’s heart! From the moment they were placed into her arms, she held them with love, strength, and confidence! This oozed over to her children and has created a secure, confidence in both of them. I watched as she created a kind, loving, secure, and safe environment for her beautiful baby girl. I never saw her panic, even when situations arose. But I did see her pray to her God, cling to her husband, and trust that God would give them all of the right answers. I witnessed as she modeled a Christ-like example of being a wife for her tiny baby girl. She showed respect in asking him, including him, and loving him, as God had called her to do. I witnessed as she embraced his dreams, and joined in them with him, as she took hold of his hand, safe and secure that God was leading them as they packed up their house with a one year old, and moved to a brand new city to pursue a ministry they had been called to. I watched her join in that ministry with him wholeheartedly! Taking packed meals for her little girl as they both joined daddy at his youth group events.

I witnessed as she had her second child, who was double the size of the first! A beautiful boy, who came out with zest and zeal for life, much like his mommy did! Within 24 hours of his birth, he was taken from her loving arms and put into the NICU care unit. I saw firsthand that she leaned on her God in one of her most trying and dark hours! She never doubted His strength and power to heal her son, and she stood beside her baby boy and her husband the entire 9 days in the NICU! God answered her prayers, all of our prayers, and healed that baby boy! I then watched as she became a mother of two. Two very different children, with two very different personalities! I have watched her navigate and find her way through disciplining, loving, and mothering two different children. I have never seen anyone do it any better. She seeks God with all of her heart, trusts in Him completely, and relays on Him to be her strength and her true source of wisdom. I am proud of not only the mother that she is, but the wife that she is and the servant of God that she is. I know that her children will truly rise up and call her blessed, because she has put God first, her husband second, and her children next!

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her.” – Proverbs 31:28

Where does she fall into the lineup, you ask? Dead last! She is the most sacrificial, loving, giving, mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter,…I am so proud of her and so happy to call her not just my daughter, but my very best friend! She is my treasure, my priceless jewel beyond compare, and a mother like none other. She has given me a great gift in my two grandchildren! But the greatest gift of all is the gift she has given me to be a part of her life and theirs!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, CHRISTINA NICOLE! You are a beautiful example of a loving, giving, sacrificial Mom!

I love you with my whole heart, FOREVER AND EVER!

Truth Bomb:

It is an inexplicable joy to be a Mother to a Mother!

As we bring this mothers series to an end, I want to wish all of the mothers out there a very happy and blessed Mother’s Day! You all deserve a day to be honored and blessed! No matter what kind of an example of a Mother that you had, or how you feel that you have succeeded or failed at being a mom, ALWAYS REMEMBER, God is Father to the Fatherless, A perfect parent to us all. May this day be a reminder of His love for you!

“A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God, in His holy dwelling.” – Psalm 68:5

Happy Mother’s Day!

Speak Truth Love