A Day Worth Remembering

Tomorrow I have the privilege of talking with my kiddos in Bible study about the Ethiopian man, who at the moment of believing wanted to be baptized.  The excitement he must of felt in that moment when he saw the pool of water!  I'm sure it was a moment he'd never forget!  (Acts 8:26-40)

As I studied, thoughts of my own baptism came to mind like . . .                
I don't swim!!!  (odd first thought, right?)  I enjoy playing in the water, as long as my feet touch the ground and my head stays above the water! Youth swim parties terrified me! Whether you were in a swimsuit or not, chances were great that you'd be thrown in - the deep end! Needless to say,
I missed a lot of pool parties! 

No, being baptized doesn't require swimming, but I was really afraid of going under the water.  In the grand scheme of things, not knowing how to swim never was a real issue - until I decided to ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life! Yep, that meant the next step was baptism. Yikes!  In the mind of a 10 year old, I had thoughts like:
My head is going to be "pushed" under the water!!!   Sure I could hold my nose with the little white hanky - but what if water got through the hanky?  What if the pastor dropped me?   

Fortunately I had a very caring, compassionate pastor who understood my dilemma and took all the time I needed to prepare me for "the day of dunking"!!  I can remember practicing for baptism as we stood in his office.  He practiced with me over and over again.   I truly believe that when the time came for me to be baptized the Holy Spirit took over and I was able to conquer my fears!  

Fast forward 20 years.  My family took a trip to Zion, Illinois  where I was born and raised. (until I was in the 5th grade) It was so much fun remembering life in Zion! I loved showing my family my old house, my school, my grandparents house, the park and especially my church.  As we walked through the doors and down the aisle I was reminded of my Papa - I would hold out my hand and he always had a candy or piece of gum for me :)   My mind was filled with sweet memories!  

Memories like my mom singing in church, laying my head on my grandmother's lap during church services, my Sunday School teachers, covered dish dinners, VBS parades and walking down the aisle to publicly announce my love for Jesus and my decision for Him to be the Lord of my life!  I'll never forget as a grown wife and mother walking through that dry baptistry - tears flooding my eyes and rolling down my cheeks!  I was overwhelmed with God's love and I was overjoyed that so long ago I made the decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ!   Remembering my "profession of faith" walk and baptism have helped me through days of doubt. 

What is your story?
Do you have memories of your baptism?

• Who was there?
• Where it was?
• How you felt? 

If you're wondering what baptism is - 

• it is the way believers publicly acknowledge that they have accepted Jesus Christ is their Savior.
• it is an act of being obedience and following Jesus' example.
• it symbolizes our sins being washed away.
• it is a visual representation of dying to self and rising up new in Christ Jesus! 

If you're curious and would like to know more - I'd love to share more of my story with you! 

"Thank you! Now let's do this!"

When I was a little girl my dream was to be a teacher. It was the plan since my first day of school! My daddy hung a chalkboard in the garage - winter's cold or summer's heat - you could find my standing at the chalkboard "teaching" my dolls and stuffed animals. 
I didn't love school - but I loved the idea of teaching, of helping others learn and grow. It never entered my mind that I would ever do anything else. 

And that is how it all got started.

As I've walked through my 59 years on this earth, I've tried my best to "delight in the Lord," to love God and love people! I've truly enjoyed getting to know, serve and love those God placed in my path, especially children! 

 And "at just the right time", I was blessed to become a teacher! God gave me 20 wonderful years teaching pre-K kiddos, prepping them for Kindergarten. I couldn't have loved another job more! 

And then God said, "Thank you! Now let's do this!" 

In 1999 my calling changed from teaching preschoolers in a "secular/weekday ministry", to serving as a Preschool & Children's Minister in a local church. When I knew God was calling me into something different, I had to ask - "Are you sure!? There are SO many more qualified people than me!"  But, God persisted, and the Holy Spirit convicted, and with much prayer and counsel from friends and family, I said, "okay God, let's do this!" 

I was as green as a gourd! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. My morning conversations with God sounded something like - "Hi God, what will we be doing today?" Of course He never failed me and during my years of serving as a Preschool/Children/Family Minister, I had the honor of getting to know, serve and love on so many wonderful preschoolers, kids, teens and their parents! (some young and "seasoned" adults too!) 

I was very blessed to serve in "vocational church ministry" for 20 years!  
Then God said, "Thank you! Now let's do this!" 

During my 20 years serving the local church, I was given the opportunity to serve on the State VBS Team and lead training seminars for Preschool Church leaders. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship, serving alongside State Missionaries and other church leaders of Alabama. It has been a highlight of my career!  

Then God said, "Thank you. Now let's do this!" 

In January of 2020 I began serving as a Alabama State Missionary, specializing in Preschool and Vacation Bible School ministries.  

I know, right!?! It's crazy!  How did I get here?!  I've often wondered, what happened to the little girl whose only dream was being a teacher? 

Well, recently while sharing a portion of my testimony at an Upwards Basketball halftime, God answered that question. 

As I prayed about what God would have me share, the verses Proverbs 16:3; "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."  and Proverbs16:9;  "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." came to mind. So as I'm talking - (this is so like God), he whispered . . . 

 "Her dreams came true!" 

You see, God didn't give me my dream for just a moment in time - He took my very small dream and God-Sized it!!! I've lived my entire adult career teaching - God just changed the subject!  I went from teaching the ABCs of reading, writing and arithmetic to the ABCs of salvation!  I've seen the excitement of a preschooler recognizing a word or writing his name - but I've also seen the excitement of a child pray asking Jesus to be the Lord of their life! 

I shared with these Upward families to delight in the Lord, and dream your dreams, just let GOD guide your steps and HE will lead you to HIS perfect path for your life! 

I sometime ask God what took so long, why couldn't I have just started here.
Silly me!  He said because, I used those 20 years to prepare you for the next 20 years, which have prepared you for this new path We're now walking!   

I'm so glad I chose to "Trust in the LORD with all my heart" and that I didn't lean on my own understanding!  I'm so thankful that HE directed my path.  

Connecting the Dots - Revisited

When I was a little girl I loved to color, who am I kidding, I still do!  I asked my family to give me crayons and coloring books this past Christmas; they looked at me and asked if I was serious. I guess that was an appropriate question considering I'm 49 years old! Anyway, they granted my request and I got a turn-table full of crayons in beautiful colors and several coloring books. Now, when I'm stressed or tired or just want to "get away" instead of Calgon, I color. 

I remember coloring as a little girl, I enjoyed the pretty pictures and choosing what colors to use. But, I really liked the Dot-to-Dot pictures. I was always intrigued by what the finished picture would be. Sometimes there would be clues on the page, but it was never enough to give it away. So, I would grab my pencil, place it at number one and begin to connect the dots. I loved watching the completed picture come to life!

Just last week, I talked with my youth group about life being like a connect the dot picture. I gave each of them a picture to complete - without any numbers. They all said the same thing, "How are we supposed to do this without the numbers?" (they are so smart!) My point exactly!  

So often in life we try to create our own picture, connecting dots in random order, going here and there not considering the finished product. What we end up with is a mess! The only way for the picture to be completed as planned is when we allow the pen to stay in the hand of the Creator of the picture. 

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's masterpiece. We have been designed to do good works that were planned long ago. As a follower of Jesus Christ, and if we believe that, then why do we so often take the pen from the Creator's hand and try to connect the dots ourselves? We are each a unique creation. God has mastered a plan for our lives, carefully designing the dots and knowing where each dot connects. Sometimes the dots are connected quickly and with much ease. Other dots seem to take forever before they are connected. It's at those times we want to snatch the pen and start making our own connections. 

I've learned that taking the pen from the hand of the Artist who created my picture isn't in my best interest. So, I've learned to trace His hand; and, when I can't trace His hand, I've learned to trust His heart. 

Who is holding the pen that is connecting the dots in your life? 

(By the way - I wrote this ten years ago, and it's still true today.)     

The Great Escape!

The Great Escape!

Matthew 2:13-18

An angel spoke to Joseph and said take Mary and Jesus and escape to Egypt. (Why? Because an obsessive, deranged man as trying to kill Jesus.) Herod, the king, had heard of this baby that was born to be King and he didn't like it one bit! He was determined to make sure that didn't happen. Anyway, when the Wise Men, that Herod lied to about wanting to worship the new King, found Jesus they took another path home as warned in a dream. Ignoring Herod's request made him livid! When Herod realized he had been outwitted by these Wise Men, his anger took over and he sent soldiers to kill all baby boys under the age of two - in hopes that he might just kill this new Baby King!

Herod was evil and he was led by evil forces! Yes, evil forces were real then and they are real today! Satan is still using whatever means he can to prowl around seeking to steal, kill & destroy our joy! Whatever Satan is doing and whoever he is using to steal your joy, to cause you to fear or to doubt - just know this . . .

Satan used Herod, a king, who only had human authority and power to try and "get his job done"!

But GOD sent Jesus, THE King of kings and Lord of lords, who has Divine authority and power over ALL things, to protect and provide for His children.

Just has God protected Jesus, His fully human Son, and His human parents, He protects us! God's Word promises His children that He has a good and perfect plan for our lives.

NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN THWART GOD'S PLANS!

We need to write this on our foreheads and doorposts; and hang it on our mirrors and refrigerators!

God Word says . . .

John 10:10 - "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

Job 41:2 - "I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You!"

Romans 8:27-28 - "And the Father, who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for he Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and called according to His purposed for them."