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Ask And It Will Be Given To You, Seek And You Will Find

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One of the things I love about BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) is that it has taught me how to pray effectively. It adds structure to my prayer life, which adds structure to my life.

Every morning when I rise out of bed, I meet God in prayer. Most mornings, I am more alert than others, but the structure is still the same. The Lord has refined the process over time but in times, like grief, when I don’t know what to say or do, having structure keeps my hand to the plow. I meet with God whether for instruction or comfort.

The first thing I do when I pray is remind myself who I am praying to. He is Creator of all things. The Master of the Universe. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. I envision Him sitting on His throne hearing my words. It is  humbling. We have to remember who we are approaching. He is not just a better version of us.

I ask forgiveness of my sins and attempt to name the ones I remember. I have a tendency to get caught up in the moment, and I have to press myself to keep going. I could spend a lot of time here. Truth is I won’t remember all my sins and neither will He. Amen! But confession should be part of your day so that God will not remember your sins.

Next I read His word and pray it back to Him. When you are in a relationship with someone, you learn new stuff about them. God’s word teaches me new things about Him. Each month He gives me powerful verses that echo throughout my days and nights. This month He has taught me that He is just. He will right all wrongs. He will give me the power to accomplish all my faith prompts me to do. Amen again.

Then after I have good sense of who I am praying to, I begin my thanksgiving and petitions.

Time has taught me to write this stuff down which allows me to see how God has worked over time. If you don’t have some type of prayer journal or place where you write down your request to God, start now. It will build your faith as He shows you His faithfulness. Record each prayer, so you will remember what you pray for. Sometimes God answers prayers you forgot you prayed.

Every morning I remind myself of His grace in His provision for me. I thank Him. He has brought me a mighty long way.

I pray for people. Family. Friends. Acquaintances. Every person on my list, God has placed there and usually for specific purposes. And they don’t move off the list until God moves them. [I review the list every quarter. If I feel God has answered the prayer, I move the person off the list. But if it is not time for them to go, sure enough, I will get a call or email from the person. It gives me a giggle.]  My list is several pages, so I am sensitive to the amount of time it takes to pray for all these folks.

The first list is about God’s vision for my life, my calling and His instructions. I need to make sure I am doing what He wants, when and where He wants.

The second list consists of people I plan on praying for the rest of my life (or theirs). These people are dear to my heart and have affected my life in some profound way.  I have watched the Lord work in their lives and am proud to be one of His prayer warriors on their behalf.

On the third list are people who are there for a season. For some reason God has called me to pray for them for a season. My BSF sisters are included in this group. This list is the most fluid and the reason why I review it every quarter.

The fourth list is for salvation. It is by far the most important list because it is asking that God reach into their lives and save them for all eternity.  FYI if you are a member of my family by blood or marriage your name is on this list. My daily prayer is that not one of us will be left behind and my God is faithful.

The fifth list is over my work, projects and alliances. He has taught me powerfully about who you align yourself with.

The Lord has taught me that prayer is an effective tool to communicate with Him. He has taught me that prayer should cover your whole life. For me, writing down my prayer requests and His answers to them continues to build my faith. He allows me to be a part of His plan by seeing His work in other people’s lives and praying for them.

Meeting with Jesus daily, prepares me for the day and for this life. He taught me all I need to do is ASK.

Caught in the Crosswinds

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I Love Lucy has always been one of my favorite shows. While many of you went to church as a child, I spent Sunday mornings in front of the television. I have learned that God will use whatever tool He has available to reach us whether it is His word which is the Bible or an episode of I Love Lucy speaking to being self absorbed with self pity.

He used my favorite TV shows to teach me until I developed a love for His word. Now I understand who He is and what He promises. Caught in the Crosswinds speaks to some of the lessons I learned about God through His Word.

Caught In The Crosswinds is available on Amazon.

Caught_in_the_Crosswinds_ Book1

Beating the Odds: Single Moms

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The role of single mom is one that has stretched me more than any one role in my life. It has taught me what pure joy feels like. It has also taught me about living with frustration and disappointment when things don’t work out the way you plan it.

Folks come to the role of single parent by different means, but you have to remember that God placed you there. He could have left Hagar with Abraham and Sarah, but He moved her away and gave her the means to raise her son.

I chose to be a single mom. I had no idea what God had in store, but I had a faith that wouldn’t quit. I was an educated woman with a nice job and thought I had a lot to offer a child. (Bhwaaaa!) I really can look back on this and laugh because my learning started as soon as I got the baby home.

{Some times I think God listens to all of our crappy prayers and decides to teach us that we really don’t know what we are talking about. When I say crappy, I mean those self centered arrogant prayers. I believe it gives Him a giggle. I believe He delights when we see the error of our ways and say “You know, I shouldn’t have prayed for that.”}

True to His nature, The Lord gave my introvert self an extrovert kid. Every moment this child was awake, she talked. Even when I loaned her to other people, like my sister or my mother, she talked. Somewhere around her seventh or eighth year of life she could look at me and see I was full of her talk. She would say “I will be back in a little bit” and give me a few moments of quiet. {And if they are talking to you they are not listening to anything you say anyway}

So all of the crap I thought I was going to give this child when I first ventured down this road is nothing compared to the great gift I actually gave her. {And it was God’s idea}  I am jealous for her because I did not get this gift myself when I was her age. My life would have been completely different if I had.

This year will be my daughter’s last year in the school program of BSF. She started in First Grade and will complete the Senior Level this coming school year. She has been given 12 years to get to know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. I have spent 12 years telling her this is the most important thing you will do with your life. She had been learning God’s word and have it written on her heart. I was the vessel God used to reach her in spite of myself.

It is one thing to say He is a priority and another to live it. We have missed school programs and performances because they were scheduled on Bible Study nights.  We have missed parties, gatherings, tv shows, friends, families etc. We have not missed Jesus.

In Deuteronomy 11:18-19, the Lord instructs us to teach his word to our children. I have been faithful. I have done what He requested of me. It is pure joy to be able to do something you know pleases the Lord.

Statistically the odds are against children who come from single parent homes. But the Lord tells us that our days will be many if we teach His ways to our children.  There are many things we do not have, but we have the most important thing. Jesus.

If you are struggling with your child, it is time to let the Lord lead with them. BSF will start up in September. It is time to enroll them and teach them God’s ways. As parents, all we can do is tell them about God.  His spirit will do everything else.

Learning from Animals

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For the first time in my life, I dog sat. This year, I am really stepping out of my comfort zone. I am not a pet person, so I was quite amused by pet behavior. It was new to me and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The dogs were charming, irritating and funny.

I realized I am not cut out to be a pet person. Pets have too many characteristics of people but none of the reasoning capacity. They were much smarter than I imagined. They opened doors, threw fits and read me like a book.

I got amused watching the dogs interact with each other. Loulah, a Cathoula/Shepherd mix would tease the chihuahua, Roscoe, who was tied down with just a limited area he could roam through. The chihuahua was the newest to the mix and had not adopted all of the house rules, so he had to be limited. Loulah is a sweetie, but she has her moments.

Loulah

Loulah would get the squeaky squirrel dog toy and take it to Roscoe. She would walk around him, like musical chairs, while he  chewed on it and made it squeak. And just when he was comfortable, she would snatch it and run out of his range. She would take it to another room, them after a few seconds would skip back into the room with it, but careful to stay out of Roscoe’s range.

I got a kick out of watching. Roscoe fell for it every time. Loulah definitely enjoyed it.

That is what Satan does to us. He tempts us with something we think we want. We get to chewing on it and comfortable with it, then he snatches it from us and takes it out of our range. When we are good and dumbfounded by it, he skips back in with it between his teeth taunting us with it.

Needless to say, I am not amused when I am tricked by Satan in that way. Unlike, Roscoe, I have God’s word to guide me. Last month’s verse was Psalm 19.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul,

The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

If Satan is taunting or tempting you, there is a place you can go so that you don’t keep falling for it over and over again.

God’s Plans

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Many many years ago, I took a class. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Some of it stuck. One of the rituals I do every years is make goals for the year. Physical. Emotional. Spiritual, Etc. If you don’t have goals then it is difficult to tell if you are making progress or being static. I try to plan out my year. Review quarterly to see what is working and what is not.

Sometimes the things that I want are not in line with what God has planned. I am learning to trust God. If something doesn’t work, don’t push it. I go back to Him and ask what He wants me to do. Most of the time He says “Be still.”

I set goals with long term planning in mind. I understand that I have plans but God’s plans trump mine. Normally I try to plan according to the guidance God has already given me. If He hasn’t told me to change, I keep doing what He has told me to do.

One of my goals this year was to lose weight and get off my blood pressure medication. I attacked this goal with the intention of it being a long term goal, taking 3 to four years. I increased my exercise and worked on my diet (but I do love fried chicken.)

Roughly three or four months into this year, I lost about 10 pounds. When I went to my doctor, I asked her if I could stop taking one of the medications I had been taking.  She said,”Sure, lets try it.” She was very helpful and encouraging. I was so excited. I had reached a goal for the year. Yay me!

This year has been one of the hardest years I have ever lived physically, emotionally and mentally. My mom passed in December. One of my aunts got sick in April and I spent many a days by her beside until the Lord took her home. I have found myself challenged at all points to where some days I was ready to fight anyone who got in my face.

But God blessed me.

He gave me the funnest job I have ever had, but it has come with challenges. When you face challenge after challenge it is easy to get discouraged, but my God always has something in the wings. I sprained my ankle on vacation and had to go back to the doctor.

Routine blood pressure found my BP so low, I could get rid of another medication and in addition to that I lost 5 more pounds. Praise the LORD! If my ankle wasn’t sore, I would have danced out of there.

Some areas of my life, God is moving like an out of control freight train going down hill on a track. Some areas are at a complete stand still. I am learning to find my contentedness in whatever my circumstance. He is so good to me!

This year He is teaching me to live Philippians 4:11-12.

Destiny’s Dilemma is available on Amazon Kindle

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You can get the Kindle version of Destiny’s Dilemma on Amazon. The paperback will be available by July 31. You can order online or by email.

An African American woman moved home to take care of her dying mother giving up the opportunity to experience a world beyond segregation. Zoraida Hughes Williams finds that some things have changed about her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas while some have stayed the same, like Hell’s Half Acre, an area where saloons, prostitution and gambling runs wild. Like most of the residents, she wants to keep her head down and stay away from trouble, but it comes in the unlikely form of an Anglo Baptist preacher. He messes up everything and almost gets them killed.

Destiny_Dilemma book

Destiny’s Dilemma on Amazon

An Intimate Look

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Allow God to lead your day.

My day started when I got up and prayed. I made my to-do list for the day. Lord bless this list. Change it where you need to.

One of the stops on my list that I thought would take hours took about 15 minutes. Praise God.

I went and walked afterwards. As I was heading to my car at the end of my walk, I ran into my cousin. (the one that is 30 years my senior and I can’t keep up with.)

I decided to do another lap with her.

My bible study time:

It made me wonder how many of you will I see in heaven. And I also thought about what it would be like when you first see Jesus ( Rev 4, Isaiah 6)

As I was knocking other things off my list, I got a call that interrupted my progress.  I tossed everything to the side and went to the call.

I spent the afternoon with my aunt who is fading fast.  She had on an oxygen mask, so we couldn’t talk like we have been the last month. We watched the Rangers lose.  Sad I know.

A few hours later, other family members poured in. We sat, talked and waited.

I decided to leave. I needed to go home and check on my family.

But in the parking lot, a few of us started talking again.

I went back in.

This time it was my aunt who is fading fast, her best friend and me.

(This was one of those life changing moments so I don’t want you to miss it. Cause I almost missed it, but I listened to God and went back in.)

My Aunt’s best friend took her hand and began to pray. She prayed a prayer the reminded my aunt of all the things God has done in her life. Reminded her of all the amazing moments in life they had experienced. Reminded her of God’s faithfulness, mercy and His grace.

At the end of this woman’s prayer I heard the struggle of wanting your friend healed and wanting your friend to see Jesus.

When she finished, I prayed Lord, I want a friend like that. Someone who will remind me of your faithfulness.

After the prayer, my aunt kept looking up. See, she is looking for Jesus.

Like he said in the video, I know it is going to be an amazing experience.

He knows what’s coming. Allow Him to order your day.

 

 

Whom Shall I Fear?

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In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah got the opportunity to see God in a whole new light.  The fact that Isaiah hung on to the death of something in his life showed he had experienced great loss. There was something valuable to him that was there no longer. But what he gained was bigger and better than he ever thought possible.  God gave Isaiah a glimpse of who He really is. Once you get a glimpse of who God really is, nothing else matters.

Isaiah needed that moment with God to fill his emptiness.

Once God filled it, Isaiah was ready to minister again. “Here I am. Send me.”

Like Isaiah, I have experienced great loss. I have nothing left to give. God has emptied my coffers so that all there is is me. But all the takers in my life are still trying to take. They are frustrated when there is nothing there to take. They want more of what they were used to getting, but there is nothing. He brought me to this season for a reason. God is my only source, and I have learned contentment. (Philippians 4:11-13)

In my 50th year of life, the Lord is teaching me how to fear Him. It is the beginning of wisdom. Once you get a good picture of who you serve, it puts everything in perspective. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that there are lots of thunderstorms and earthquakes in this area. God shakes our foundations to show us we don’t control anything.

The same God who loved us so much He sent his Son, is also the same God who turns up the earth in quakes and sends us running for cover in tornados. I serve a mighty God and trust Him with all areas of my life.  He shut the mouths of lions for Daniel. He kept the fire from the 3 Hebrew boys. Ain’t nothing out there can touch me, less it go through Him first. If He brings me too it, then He will bring me through it.

If Noah had brought other people on the boat, they probably would have jumped off after 20 days because they didn’t trust what God was doing with Noah. He got to experience God as a destroyer of mankind and as a provider for his family. I know that when this season of life is over for me,  I will be like Isaiah wanting to share all that He has done for me.

God is in control. He knows what He is doing. I believe that His children will not be forsaken.

Serving Others

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TAB 2 Tarrant Area Food Bank

My pastor is preaching a series on serving others. His theology is God knows you are serious about putting Him first if you are serving others. He defines serving others by doing things for people who can’t reciprocate. Dr. Tony Evans said that others’ special needs are designed for divine intercession, it allows God to teach us about Himself.

I have had an amazing walk with God this week sitting in hospital rooms. Sometimes I got to sit quietly, while other times the rooms were filled with conversation and laughter. I have the best family. These people will show up and stay when you are in need. I got to see a compassionate God who cares for us in our weakest moments. We are all heading for that moment. Oh but for grace that will meet us there.

Last night I worked at the Tarrant Area Food Bank with a group of good friends. It was a blessing to be with folks who gave their time unselfishly. We had a good time doing something for someone who could not pay us for the work. God revealed what unconditional love looked like through these people.

That is what I love about God’s word. He gives us examples to live by. We know that if we serve others, we are in His will. If we are selfish, we are not in His will.

I know who I am in Christ. I know my strengths and my limitations. This week I got to be His hands and feet to the point of exhaustion. When I scheduled the Food Bank, I had no idea the other events of this week would take place. I am confident that I am in this season of life for this purpose.  My confidence is from Christ and His power at work in me.

Good Friday

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For Lent this year instead of giving up something, I added something.

Every day I told the Lord I loved Him. I mean He already knew, but through this process I learned some things.

Here are some of my take aways:

His love is consistent. He tells me everyday He loves me whether I hear it or not.

He trust us with moments

He protects me from things I don’t know. I don’t need to know everything.

He continually reveals Himself to me.

I am learning not to fight when the day doesn’t go the way I schedule it. I remember one morning He woke me very early to spend my time with Him and do my bible study. I ended up spending the rest of the day at DPS renewing my license. Instead of leaving cranky about how slow DPS was, I was in awe of how God ordered it all.

Even though we think we order our days, plan our paths, control our destiny He showed me that He can shut humanity down with some ice and water. While we were trapped in our houses, I watched birds gather pecans like nothing was happening.

My favorite is the adventure that comes with a life dedicated to Him. Some people think their lives will be boring if they follow Jesus. Over the last month and half I have heard the President speak live, had my film accepted into two great film festivals and had the chance to visit a site from my family history.

Life is not always so full and fun. I think of the incident yesterday in Kenya. New stories said four gunman divided the students between Christian and Muslim. They killed the Christians. In my safe little world of Fort Worth, it is easy to say that I identify with Christ. But I wonder what would I say if there was a gun to my head. Whenever I think I am sure that I would stand up for Jesus, I think of His disciples who chose to run on a day like today. Are you confident of what you would do? If not:

Keep allowing God to work your muscle of faith.

Be confident like the three boys in the furnace.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3: 17-18.

I am assured that when those babies entered heaven yesterday that Jesus was standing at the right hand of God welcoming them home. They had passed the most important test.