14 Days Til Christmas

December 12, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

I don’t go every year, but I do love the State Fair of Texas. This year was a good year.

I never went to the State Fair as a child, but as an adult I admit my favorite things were: cotton candy and candy apples. I do remember the year I was leaving the fair, walking to my car and the candy apple fell off the stick onto the ground. I believe that was the sign for me to try new things. As a result, my new love is the Cuban roll.

This year was good also because my sister and Hope got on one of the crazy ride. A picture says more than any words I can put together.

See, what did I tell you. God invented cellphones with cameras so that memories would last a bit longer.

This was an awesome adventure.

15 Days Til Christmas

December 11, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

(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.

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.

16 Days Til Christmas

December 10, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

Another great moment from this year was the night we surprised my sister, which is a very difficult thing to do. She had received a promotion at work and some of her co workers organized the gathering at a local restaurant.

I will never understand the science around trying to sneak 20+ people into a public place to surprise someone, but hey it worked for us. There is something about honoring people in our lives as they achieve incredible things. People should get a pat on the back for work done well.

My sister is so funny in that she never caught on until they walked her to the table and we were all there waiting for her. I think that speaks to the caliber of friends you have. We have friends who like to celebrate life. We celebrate al the moments, great and small.

17 Days Til Christmas

December 9, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

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

December 8, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

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.

19 Days Till Christmas

December 7, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

One of the things I take for granted is the ability to attend church. God blessed me with the ability to attend a church where His word is taught in spirit and truth. It is not only a house with a great preacher, but a house filled with people who love Him. My many hours of service to the church have been spent with people who believe God is who He says He is. Iron sharpens iron.

The Lord has used my time at OCBF to broaden who I am as a mother, daughter, sister and artist. This summer I got work with some really talented folk from my church. These folks are so special to me, I scheduled the last day of shooting my movie to be spent with actors from my church. It was fun.

I love sitting under the teaching of Dr. Tony Evans. My pastor is unashamed of the gospel because he understands the power it holds (salvation for the Jew and Gentile). His passion for the Lord is contagious. He challenges my growth as Christian and strengthens my walk with the Savior.

I love this season in my life.

20 Days Til Christmas

December 6, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

21 Days Til Christmas

December 5, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

When I was a kid growing up in Fort Worth, it never snowed. It iced, but never the white fluffy stuff.

For the past two year Father Winter has sent the white fluffy stuff. It throws everything off in our world, but hey, sometimes it is exactly what we need.

Whenever we think we have everything under control, we need something to turn over the apple cart and help us focus on what is important.

Because of where the city is located and how we think, we are not prepared to deal with snow. This causes us to be still.

Like everyone else, I get caught up in life. So I love it when nature just shuts everything down. We can send men into outer space and create bombs that can blow up half the world, but heavy rains, deep snow, mudslides and other nature events remind us of how much we really control.

We are vulnerable to the elements. It reminds us we are created.

22 Days Til Christmas

December 4, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

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.

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

December 3, 2014 / Psal121 / Leave a comment

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.

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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