christian

11 Days Til Christmas

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I have been fortunate enough this year to have moments of clarity. Moments where the Creator of the universe spoke to me through a situation and I learned something I was able to apply to my everyday life. Here is one from April:

Had a revelation as I was walking out of Target. A mother and her young son, about 3 or 4, were walking toward the door. She said “We are going to Target.” He was crying and yelling “No.” Even though he did not want to go, he was walking right beside her. He was steady crying, but stayed at her side.

Some days that is how my Christian walk is. God is taking me places and like the little kid, I am screaming and crying, but steady walking with Him. He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. He didn’t promise we would like everywhere He took us.

No matter how out of hand that child got at the Target, his mother didn’t leave him there. No matter how crazy my life gets, God doesn’t leave me there.

I am a visual learner, so I like it when He gives me visual lessons. He had drug me through some situations this year, but I could feel him tugging at me. He kept telling me, we are not going to stay here. (Amen!)

So wherever He is leading you, go. He is going with you.

15 Days Til Christmas

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(I apologize for the lateness. I forgot to push the publish button, but it is 15 days til Christmas.)

One of the things I love is getting my hair done. It has been an awesome gift this year.   I only go a couple of times a year because that is about all I need, and it is always a blessed time. I always have a good time. I can not remember not having a good time.

Karen Hair

The woman who does my hair is younger than me, but she has been raised in an old school way. It is always “Yes, Ma’am” and “Ms. Karen.” If she is cooking, there is always an extra plate. If she is selling something like, make up or such, I am buying.

The best part is I get to watch TV shows I would have never thought about watching. I admit, I would have not know what a “real housewife” was until I saw it at her house. Not only do I get to see it, but she updates me on what is really happening.  She doesn’t hold them against the standard of society, but against God’s standard. I love that.

I get to walk through the generation gap with her. I get to listen to her opinion on love and life. She asks me what I think and allows me to pass on principles God has taught me.  It is a good time had by all.

Although our lives are very different, I see common paths through Christ work in both of us.

17 Days Til Christmas

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the path I am on is not for the faint of heart

it is not for the ones who need hand holding

it is not for the ones who don’t believe

the path I am on was made for me

with the desire to laugh and eat

with the passion to feel

and the heart to do something

He made it just for me

He knew when I would get tired,

He knew the ones who would frustrate me

He would teach me to balance my temper and desire

this path He created just for me

I see it more clearly with each passing day

this year He lifted the veil a little higher

so I could see His glory shining through.

don’t try to walk my path

walk the one He made for you

so that you can see His glory too.

18 Days Til Christmas

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Sometimes a gift doesn’t look like a gift. One of the most fun gifts I received this year was my small small group. I lead a study of God’s word with about 6 ladies who crack me up. Do we ever stay on topic? No. Do we ever finish on time? No. Does God use us to bless each other? You better believe it.

I am surrounded by a group of social workers who deal with tragedy in other people’s lives everyday. It helps me keep things in perspective about my own life. It reminds me that there is much in life we take for granted, like a sound mind and a well body.

These ladies keep me honest (it does help that two of them are my sisters). God teaches me a lot through them.  I have been very fortunate to be born African American and female on this timeline in history. He has poured out such a gift of Himself on us. Not everyone in the group is African American, but His Spirit reigns in their lives also. There is a camaraderie with Christ that we are not ashamed of.

Small Group

20 Days Til Christmas

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I appreciate the awesome gift of a road trip.  My WWCrew and I have been to many places. This year we made some short trips, but they were just as fun. There is nothing like taking off with my friends to chart uncharted territory.

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We load up on snacks and hit the road. It is too fun. The car is filled with laughter and learning. We are foodies, so the destination usually involves a restaurant.

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We stopped at KD’s in Oklahoma City. This one was fun. The menu’s lite up, the food is good, but warning the portions are huge.  We have discovered through trial and error that there are two things we need to ensure a good meal: Dr. Pepper and Bread. We enjoyed the food and realize needed to walk around after eating.

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We also believe in experiencing history and learning from the past. It was a beautiful day to visit the Oklahoma  Memorial.

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Life is too short to spend it with a bunch of haters. Cling to those who love you, let go of those who don’t.  Peace is a gift and you need to protect it. Lots of people will say that they are your friends, but how do they react when you need them? When people show you who they are, believe it. God reveals things about people to us for a reason.  He doesn’t want you to stop loving and praying for them, but He doesn’t want destructive people having influence in your life.

22 Days Til Christmas

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This might be a weird Christmas present to some, but to me, it was one of the best.  This year some friends invited us to a Passover Seder.  This is a Jewish celebration of the Passover. Jewish people celebrate the passover to commemorate the night Death passed over them, but killed the Egyptian firstborn.

My friends went through a lot of trouble to walk some Christians through this meal and the readings.  They prepared a meal and bought wine.  They borrowed dishes and made copies of readings.  They walked our Gentile minds through their Jewish experience. It was a great experience.

Seder

 

The bible I read puts the passover in a historical and spiritual perspective.  Walking through some of the steps with my Jewish friends added a physical dimension for me.  I couldn’t help but think, that this is what they did at the Last Supper.

I am grateful for the experience because it has added another dimension to my Christian walk.

23 Days Till Christmas

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It is easy to get caught up in the need for more things. We spend a lot of time thinking about the things we want and dream about, but not enough time grateful for the things we have.

God has given me some awesome friends! I have the best time with my WWC (Wrong Way Crew). We have earned this nickname because we are always going the wrong way (directionally) even with GPS.

With Me

The night this name stuck, we were in Washington DC heading for our hotel.  We had just gotten off the Metro and were walking down some dark streets with our suitcase.  We walked almost two blocks from our hotel before we realized we were going the wrong way.

What I love about these ladies is that they make me laugh. I laugh so hard I almost black out for lack of oxygen. We have learned to enjoy life whether it is travelling across the country or hanging out in our home city.

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Friends

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Today I am thankful for friends. I have been blessed to know some of the most interesting people on the planet. They inspire me.

I am not talking about the words Facebook uses as friends. I am talking about those folks who have physically moved me over and over again. I am talking about the ones who we sat laughing so hard we almost passed out for lack of oxygen. I am talking about the ones have supported me through ups and downs.

My friends have taught me more than I ever learned in school. They have encouraged me. They have been God’s hugs and kisses. They bless me.

Bible Study

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Today I am thankful for bible study. I have spent the last 17 years of my life in some type of structured bible study and it has changed my life. There is nothing like a two sided conversation with God. As I pour my life out to Him, He blesses me in ways I have never imagined. He gives me peace when there is turmoil in the world around. He gives me strength when times are tough. He gives me hope.

One of my favorite things about Him, is He loves to laugh. God has the best jokes. They are precious specifically designed for you.

I am very grateful that I serve a God who teaches me about Himself through his word, other Christians and circumstances. He is my vision.

Family

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Today I am thankful for family. DNA doesn’t lie. It can prove if there is a blood relation, but it can’t tell you if someone is family. Only time can tell you that. I have spent decades researching my family history and have been connected to thousands of people who may be relatives.

I have found amazing treasures from this research. Some of those gems are a group of folk in Oklahoma who blessed us by coming to our family reunion one year. Through the miracle of Facebook and email we have managed to stay in contact with them.

We have celebrated some of our victories and wept over our heartbreaks. This week was a heartbreak as our cousin Barbara Allen was taken to heaven suddenly.

We always think we are going to have another day to reunion on earth. The real reunion is going to be in heaven when we are all back together again, never more to depart.

My prayer for my family is that not one of us is left behind. It is going to be the Real Family Reunion.