A MOTHER'S PERSPECTIVE

One of our Mom's at New Day Church, Katie Brown, sent me the following letter. It is a WONDERFUL Mother's Day story about the influence that Mother's have on their kids. Get ready to be blessed!! (By the way, Katie's mother's name is Sharron Cosby)


I wanted so badly to speak up yesterday (at church) and say something about the impact my mother has had on my life, how she has shaped and loved and guided me but I couldn't, so I wanted to share it now... because I dont want it to go unsaid.

Second, I was overcome with emotion this Mothers Day, I was worn down and felt beat up by my own children... on MOTHERS DAY! I told Mark that I kept waiting for one of them to tell me it was all a big joke... but that never happened. I came into church so upset, so angry and disappointed in their behavior, so mad at myself for reacting to all of it. All I knew for the first half hour of church on Mother's Day was that being a Mom is hard, very hard sometimes, but seriously, this was MOTHERS DAY, couldn't my kids be perfect for just this one day? I was doing good at holding back my tears until my mom walked in, she always knows when my heart isnt right and she knew from passing Mark on the way back out to the car with Mason and Kody's downcast look that this wasn't a Hallmark card day. When my mom hugged me and gave the "ive been there" smile and a comforting chuckle and said "it will be okay, it isnt always easy"... the tears came rushing out. I looked at my mother, complete with her crown of grace and dignity, her upright character and her sweet delicate hands that have folded in prayer for me more times than I could ever imagine and thought... she survived me, and she did it with undying, unshakable love, a love deeply rooted in the grace that only the Lord can provide, she forgives us swiftly and without question, she continues to provide and care for us, she covers us with prayer daily and I believe her prayer has literally saved my life many times.

One of the most important things I believe she did was example for us, she believes in the Proverbs 31 woman and she has lived her life in such a way that we are prepared and when faced with the difficult moments of motherhood I can use her life as a guide... "what would mom do?" She has walked with God my whole life and she has shown me in real, tangible ways how to be a Godly mother. She has laid the ground for me to grow into a mother that my children will adore, respect and cherish... like the new mother who looks at her child like a jewel, their most valued treasure that is how I see my mother... precious and rare, valued and cherished.

By the way, before you dismissed the kids you said "Mothers Day" and Mason looks up at me and says "hey, IT'S MOTHERS DAY" and gave me the biggest, cheesiest smile you could imagine, then looked at Caleb and said "Caleb, its Mother's Day"... maybe he just didn't get the memo the night before? A learning moment... my anger melted, my heart softened, I looked at my dad and we started laughing, all the unruly behavior of the morning didn't matter... Kody came and sat by me and I held my kids and as the last song played, I prayed over them, I wept into their hair, I kissed their sweet cheeks, I whispered my love to both of them; I exampled.

ATTACK OF THE BIG CRAZY BIRD

So....I am getting out of my car the other night, and I hear this weird noise. It kinda sounded like a big bird with a cold going, "YACK! YACK!" My first thought was, "That's the freakin bird that always drops a bucket load on my car every night! (And I think you know what's in the bucket, right?)

Anyway, I'm looking up in the tree, but it's too dark to really see anything. And besides, he's quit his "YACKING", since he knows I'm looking for him. So, as I turn to walk inside I yelled back at him, "I'm gonna shoot your butt outta that tree next time I see you, you crazy bird!" (I might have added an extra word or two in there also).

Well, I walk into the garage and open the door to the steps leading up to the room where I sleep. Now you have to get this picture in your mind. I close the door behind me, and start up the stairs. I don't need to turn on the light because I have been up and down those stairs tons of times in the last months, and know every step well. Anyway, so its pitch black and I'm lugging my briefcase and my computer case on each shoulder, when all of a sudden I hear directly behind me (in the pitch dark remember!).."YACK! YACK!" And you can imagine, in a small enclosed stairwell, that noise scared the...well it scared me! It sounded like that bird was right next to me, and I was sure that he was like "freak of nature" HUGE!

Well, not only did I wet myself, but I tried running up those carpeted stairs, and of course missed the very first one, which sent me sprawling forward on my face! Computer went one way, briefcase went another way, and I'm crawling on my now bruised hands and knees up the stairs as fast as I can go. Oh, and my face is on fire from "rug burn!" And I know I acted like a little sissy...but I was scared this crazy bird was going to peck my eyes out!

Finally, I made it to the top of the stairs and down the hall to my room, and I'm wondering where is this bird? I have my door closed, of course. But I'm thinking, "OK, how do I tell the precious people I'm living with, that I pissed off a crazy bird and he's stalked me into THEIR house!" Sheesh!

Well, I thought I would just call downstairs and tell them to lock themselves in their bedroom and call an exterminator. I'm thinking this thing is probably diseased and poisonous too! So I pull my new iphone out of my pocket to call them, when all of a sudden my phone begins to ring. What a time for a call, right? Guess what? It's at that moment that I remember that I set the ringer (on my new iphone) to the "QUACK! QUACK!" ringtone! OMG...THE CRAZY BIRD WAS REALLY A CRAZY RINGTONE! I was running from an iphone in my pocket!

I fell in the floor I was so relieved... and I wet myself again! (O K, O K, I'm kidding about the whole wetting myself thing), but I just want you to get the full range of my emotions, alright?

Now, I'm not sure about the lessons I am supposed to learn from all this, but I can tell you I'm not quite as cocky today as I was yesterday! And, I am reminded that sometimes God allows some things in my life to teach me to quit "fearing" and start "faithing!" So, I'm working on it, and I would appreciate your prayers. But... Im still going to shoot that crazy bird someday!!

WHAT'S A TERRORIST TO DO?

So...let me see if I understand this correctly. If I were thinking about being a terrorist I wouldn't really have to worry that much, because if I die I get to goto Terrorist Heaven and be with all my terrorist buds, and enjoy all my many beautiful virgins for all of eternity! And...if I get caught I don't really have to be too worried, because I can't be Water Boarded, Abused, Beat Up, Hit in the Face, or threatened with Bodily Harm. Nor can I be led to believe that something Evil may Befall my Family back home. Hmmm....not that bad of a deal if you ask me.

On the other hand, if I were thinking of being a terrorist maybe I WOULD have to worry a little. Because if I were to be killed, what if there were not any virgins waiting for me? In fact what if those crazy Jews and Christians were right after all? And, if I get caught it might not be that good either. I mean surely I would have to get undressed in front of everyone(Wow, thats embarrasing!). And I would probably have to stand up a lot, I would have to undergo multiple test questions without the benefit of an open book, my captors would probably laugh at my religious beliefs (which really hurts my feelings), I would have to eat food I am not used to, and I am sure they would play that "devil music"(rock and roll) right outside my cell where I can hear it! Oh, and you can just bet that my Sleep Number Bed would be set on a really bad number for me too! Hmmm...maybe it's NOT that good of a deal!

So, maybe I won't....Or... maybe I will...or, er, uh...Golly, Gee I am just so confused! I mean, what's a terrorist wannabe to do? Such a Dilemma...

OBAMA TO THE RESCUE

Well, to all those naysayers who have been barking about President Obama not having any...uh...uh...er...testosterone?...Let me say that it looks like he does! We are hearing today that he authorized the Navy (I WILL kick your ass!) Seals to rescue Captain Phillips from the pirates of Somalia. First reports say three pirates were killed and one captured, but most significantly, the Captain (a hero in his own right) was rescued. Way to go Seals!

And Mr. President, way to go for you too! Now tomorrow, put the icing on the cake of this story by calling a press conference to let any other pirate types out there know..."Mess with us like this again and you WILL die! That's it. End of story." Wow...what a press conference that will be Mr. President! We're waiting...

Can you imagine?...4 wanna be pirates trying to hold the most powerful nation on earth, hostage....Sheeesh!!

DEAR MR. OBAMA

I just thought I would express a few thoughts to you on this first day of your term as the 44th President of our beloved country. I am someone you may never meet personally, but probably am more than representative of many of your fellow Americans. Americans who have a deep love for our nation and a genuine respect for the office of President regardless of the adequacy or inadequacy of the person who occupies that office. Mr. President, as I have prayed about this day these last hours, two words have especially come to mind. The first word is:

ADMIRATION

Observing your journey these last months, I have come to admire a number of things about you and your life. I admire the fact that you have made so much out of what appears at first glance, to be so little. I am speaking of Opportunities. On paper, your beginnings, your heritage, would never equate to growing up to be a success, much less the President of this country. Oh I know, we say that "you can become anything you want" in America, but is that the truth, really? Not so much. Unfortunately, there are far more stories of failure for men and women of color, and men and women who grew up without privileges than there are stories of success.

And I realize there are exceptions to that rule, but not as many exceptions as we would hope. Your election, however, has given our nation renewed hope. A hope that maybe, just maybe a person's dreams CAN become a reality. That the vision of Martin Luther King CAN happen, not just for one person here and there, but for all of us! Thank you for making the most of your life and circumstances. Thank you for taking advantage of your gifts and abilities, for working hard and staying the course.

I also admire the obvious priority you have placed on family. The love you have for your precious girls (all 3 of them!), is apparent to all of us. And the example you are setting for fathers and men in this area may go down as the single most significant accomplishment of your life. There can be no finer legacy for a man, President or not. I am proud of you for keeping the main thing...the main thing. Thank you.

COMMITMENT

Mr. President I want you to know that I have made a commitment to God on your behalf. I have committed to love you and pray for you as you undertake the most important job in all this world. I cannot fathom the pressures you will face, or the fears and challenges that will confront you, but I know that with the strength and wisdom of God, through the prayers of His children, He will see you through.

I further commit to be patient and give you the benefit of the doubt when you make decisions I disagree with, or don't understand. If I have learned anything from the George Bush years, it is that there are far more factors than meet the eye when it comes to making the "tough" decisions a President must make. And the truth is (though I hesitate to admit it), you may know more about the situation than I do! Therefore, I will prayerfully give you every opportunity to fulfill the will of God as it is revealed to you.

That is not to say that I can with good conscience give you a pass on every decision you make, and every direction you take us as a nation. No. Simply put, I will support you faithfully every time I can, I will oppose you when I must...and I will do both with respect and dignity. You are now the President of our United States Mr. Obama, which means you are MY President.

In closing, I would tell you that I am praying the prayer that Jabez prayed in I Chronicles 4..."That the Lord would bless you indeed, that He would enlarge your territory(influence), that His hand might be upon you, and that He would keep you from evil that you would not sin and cause pain." May it be so in your life Mr. President. Congratulations to you and you family...

CARDBOARD TESTIMONY

Most everywhere you go nowadays you will eventually run into someone at a busy intersection holding a Cardboard Sign, soliciting your money and/or help. You've seen them right? Maybe even given them a few bucks from time to time? And most of the signs say pretty much the same thing. ..."Homeless, need help"....."Will work for food"...."Can you spare some change?"...."Hungry. Anything will help"....and on and on it goes. Of course, every so often you run into a rather unique sign like the one I saw close to where I live. A rather rough looking guy held his piece of cardboard with these words. Ready? It said, "To hell with food, to hell with a job...I need beer!" I had to admire the guys honesty! In fact I bought him a six pack!! (Just kidding).

But it brings up a question. If you and I as Christians were told by God to stand at an intersection with a Cardboard Sign, what would it say? Or to put it another way, "What is your Cardboard testimony?" We all have one, you know. What's yours? Need some ideas?

The following video is one of the strongest, most touching I have seen in a long time. Try to watch it in a quiet/alone moment and I guarantee you God will speak to your heart. And who knows, maybe I'll see you at one of those intersections some day.

RECONNECTING

So....I received a call today from one of my dearest friends and supporters. We had not talked for a very long time due to our schedules and other "stuff" that just seems to come up. I mean life gets hectic at times, right?

Anyway, the moment I heard his message on my phone I smiled and immediately felt better. Why? Because that's what friends do. They make each other feel better...AND...they just make each other better, period! We're going to get together next week to play some golf, and just "catch up." I can't wait.

Reconnecting. Its a good thing, isn't it? Reaffirming a relationship, reestablishing a friendship, renewing a love. It's a good thing, and a God thing. So, here's the deal. Do you have someone that you love and care for, but haven't seen, or talked to for a while? Do you remember the good times you had together? Do you remember the blessing they always were to you? Listen, why not take some time out of your schedule to Reconnect? It might take a little effort on your part. You will probably have to adjust your schedule to a degree. But it will be worth it. Not only will it bless your friend or loved one, it will bless you too!

True relationship and love between God-given friends, is priceless. If you don't believe it, check this out (and have a tissue ready!)