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Revelation

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There are those who would steal your dreams and hope. There are those who want nothing more than to see you fail. Sunday, I had a revelation that I shared with my Facebook Friends.

“I have to share this because I know some of you are waiting on the Lord to act in your life.
This morning I was on my way to church and I was singing with the radio. I don’t remember what song it was. But the Lord and I were having a conversation. He told me that sometimes we are waiting because He has to take the teeth out of the serpent that is waiting to bite you. He didn’t say He was gonna stop it, but He said it wasn’t going to harm you. You see He has to show you and the serpent who is in charge.
So whatever you are waiting on, know that God is de-fanging something that was trying to hurt you. Be still and know.”

I am in a time of waiting. It is hard, but God sends hope. You just have to look for it.

You have to learn to appreciate the times of waiting. It reminds me of the last full day of my mom’s life.  She was having a surgical procedure and we were waiting with her for her turn. My mom, my sister and I had some of the best laughter we have ever had together.  This procedure was just one of the tasks of the day. We were in a hurry to get home and get ready for Christmas. We had started talking about Christmas and ended up talking about her childhood. She had us rolling in laughter.

We were a little irritated that the procedure had not started. They originally gave us a 10am start time. Well, 10 am came and went. We were still having a good laugh, but by 12 we were looking for explanations. Closer to 1 they came and got her.

By 5 or 6 we were up in her room, laughing and talking again. We had been joined by my youngest sister and my Mom’s youngest brother and his wife.  For hours we talked and laughter. Sometimes my Mom laughed so hard, it hurt her incision. The final story of the evening was how my little sister tried to run away. We hollered. It was so funny. I could not wait for Mom to get home and hear more.

She never came home. That day of fun was all the fun I would have with her. Sometimes we are so anticipating the coming thing, we miss the moments we are living in. But I serve an awesome God. He knew what was coming. He gave us precious hours I will always remember, but they came in the form of a delay.

If things are not happening the way you want, if there is a delay in your plans, ask God for a revelation. He is taking the sting out of the bite.

Connections

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Running for her life, Sandy Herrick discovered that God was the only one with her who wasn’t talking smack, trying to kill her or get into her pants. As she and her friends try to figure out who framed them, they all discover that there was more to each other than they thought they knew.

As evil forces closed in on them, they have to determine who they trust and what they believe about each other. Would this be enough to save them?

You can purchase this book on Kindle at:

Connections

4 Days Til Christmas

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Peace.

In the midst of my storm, the Lord has given me peace.  This year He has taught me to be where I am. Whether I am up or down, be there. Often, He has a reason for placing us in the situations we are in. I can’t say I understand, but I trust the one who made it.

Even though my heart and head conflict, being where I am helps me to appreciate the moments in life.  I am appreciating spending time with my family. I have had moments with them I will remember the rest of my life.

Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. I still love the Christmas story. It will still be my favorite time of the year. This song has been running through my head everyday.

 

5 Days Til Christmas

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Five days before Christmas, one of the things I am most thankful for is prayer. I have the best prayer warriors in the world.  Prayer is a staple in my life. I talk to God everyday, but sometimes my need out weighs my ability to approach Him. When I can’t pray the things I need, it is great to have people in my corner.

When God shows His authority over my life, He also shows His compassion and provision. I am blessed.

Another thing I am grateful for is tradition. When my daughter was younger, I used to have a tradition where she and I would watch the Judy Garland Christmas Show during Christmas time. It was one of the few black and white shows she would watch with me.

Here is a good moment from the show.

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.

21 Days Til Christmas

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Music

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Anchoring my seven days of Thankfulness is Music. Today I am thankful for music. I am hoping our new glorified bodies that we will receive in heaven will come with a pitch perfect voice. Whatever voice I get, you will hear me sing Holy, Holy, Holy forever (so you might want to pray for pitch perfect).

Almost every day, the Lord wakes me with a song in my heart. Most days it is a Christian song, some days it is secular (Yes, God is a TLC fan). Occasionally, it is a song I have never heard before. More than anything, I love the connection to Him. I love the communication with Him.

I love all types of music, but there are two groups that influence my worship. Israel & New Breed and Third Day. I have only seen one group perform live, but it was a life changing experience. Music helps me focus on what is really important. I work and play according to a beat. I am inspired by it. It allows me to hear the rhythms of life. Train cars going down the tracks late at night. Traffic whizzing down the highway on a busy afternoon. The wind whipping through the trees. The silence.

Music is one of His greatest creations and I am grateful.

Fort Worth

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Today I am thankful for Fort Worth. It ain’t perfect, but its home. It is the place where I was born and raised. I have been fortunate enough to travel to other cities so I do have something to compare it to.

I love the beach, not too fond of the mountains. I am amazed by the tall trees in the Carolinas, and love the vibes in Harlem. I have ridden the “L” in Chicago, but DC’s Metro is my favorite.

I have walked the streets of New Haven and driven the freeways in LA. I have gotten a kick out of Beale Street, but the food in New Orleans will always be my favorite.

I have stood at the High School in Little Rock, the motel in Memphis and the Holocaust Museum in DC. I can’t wait to walk across the bridge in Selma on its 50th anniversary.

In Fort Worth, there is no Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. We are landlocked. The trees are not as impressive as the Carolinas and there are no subways connecting us to other communities. We are notoriously lacking in Civil Rights History, but when I think of home: Mama’s Pizza, Robinson’s Barbecue and Good Luck. The South Side, Stop Six and Meadowbrook. Remember Seminary South or when Stage West was in the TCU Theater? My Paschal and TCU purple blood runs deeper than the Barnett Shale.

Does Fort Worth ever cross your mind?