Monday, August 27, 2012

Respite

Life is aggravating.

Life is wearying.

Somehow, when you return from a vacation, you wish you could stay in that place, but real life is smacking you in the face and sooner than you wanted to you're no longer in vacation mode.

This morning as I prayed, it occurred to me  that I have a Comforter and I can take a respite whenever I need it and as often as I need it.  I don't have to wait until I'm emotionally spent or physically ailing.  As I walk and I'm weary, I can give it to Him. He's there for me.

I love the word respite and the vision it conjures up - rest, relief, relaxation.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4
What do you need a break from? Do you find yourself wishing for a breather?




Friday, August 17, 2012

You An Athlete?

That was the question asked to a young lady by a guy at the beach in Barbados as we were waiting to go jet-skiing.  We all had on swim suits and life vests, but there was something different about this young lady's legs.  They were muscular, well-defined and looked good on her.  They inadvertently drew his attention (not in sexual lecherous way) as he asked his question in awe.


Now he didn't ask the rest of us if we were athletes; from the shape of our legs he deduced that we weren't athletes, though he may have been wrong.

As a Christian, our walk, our actions, our character, our words should be so different from those around us that it makes others ask  "You a Christian?" If they don't  we should always be trying to emulate Christ so eventually that becomes an obvious question.

Some times we are overlooked through no fault of our own - perhaps there's no glaring opportunity to share your faith or you don't often get a chance to interact with others.  That doesn't dim your light - use the time as preparation so that when the opportunity presents itself you are prepared.

Some times we are overlooked because it's obvious based on our actions that we're not.  It's the equivalent of having zero muscle tone and calling yourself a world class athlete. Others have to see something that indicates that you are what you say your are.

However, not everyone that has athletic legs is an athlete.  They are many that are naturally blessed with this attribute, yet shy away from all form of exercise.  Many call themselves Christians, but just because you say you are, doesn't mean you are. Many think that if they live right and are good that should be enough. Unfortunately, that does not make you a Christian. Just as nice legs don't make you an athlete, so also doing good works alone, does not make you a Christian.

Therefore by their fruits, you shall know them.  Matt 7:20

You a Christian?  Does your life reflect it?



Friday, August 10, 2012

Rear Ended

Here I am sitting, minding my business and all of a sudden I feel rather large impact from the back of my car.

We were on our way to the airport (again) at 5:15 in the morning. At this time of day, there's no traffic and traffic was moving well.  Let me preface this by saying that I live in LA and there's always traffic on the 405 - always. My daughter's flight was scheduled to leave at 7:40 am; because the ultimate destination was overseas we had to arrive two hours before the flight. We were aiming for 5:40 or thereabouts. Traffic was moving well and then all of a sudden it wasn't. We were at a dead stop for a full 5 minutes.  It was strange because no one could see what was causing the holdup. After 5 minutes traffic started to move again, but then stopped suddenly - and this is when it happened.  I stopped with sufficient space in front of me.  Then I heard and felt BANG. I screamed - then I stopped when I realized I was OK though I had banged my head very hard on the head rest. This all took place in the HOV lane. Now traffic was at a real stand still and this time the reason was clear - someone had rear ended another driver.


I put my hazard lights and got out of the car.  I went to the car behind me - the driver of that vehicle said he was OK, but that the car behind him had hit him and then he hit me.  So I went to the third car - she was fine physically it appeared but frazzled; the front of her car looked like an accordion.

The cop came - he asked if I was fine, I said something to effect of I'm fine but he hit me.  He then responded calm down, which I thought was odd as I was far from not being calm.  I smiled and tried to tell him I was on my way to the airport but he wouldn't let me speak.  I found all of this odd.  Since I was in the front he eventually said, he would halt traffic and direct us to the shoulder where we could pull over.  A little frazzled and slightly annoyed, I followed him.  After determining that everyone was fine in my car, I really didn't want my daughter to miss her flight.

Once we were on the shoulder, I noticed the cop talking to the second and third drivers.  I tried to stay "calm" as I was instructed and called my husband.  He said I needed to let the cop know I had a time constraint, be aggressive.  Now if anyone knows me, you know I know how to be aggressive.  I said he's ignoring me.  He said do the weeping damsel thing but let him know you're pressed for time. OK.

I noticed that the second driver was able to leave. I got out the car and told the cop I had a time constraint and I'm trying to get to the airport, what do I need to do. At this point he became very helpful. The third driver had gotten the second driver's information, so I was able to exchange information with her. I wasn't hurt and the cop was there, so I left. I told the cop to have a nice day.

I got to the airport around 6:15 - my daughter was able to check in and made her flight.

I have no idea why this happened.  Getting rear ended on the 405 seems to be a rite of passage for living in California. I am grateful for the way everything transpired and that no one was hurt. And if God was trying to get my attention, He sure did by having me bumped from behind.

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3
How has God gotten your attention lately?



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Crazy World

We live in a crazy world - yet another senseless act of violence has taken place.

When I think of the shooting at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, I remember a programmer I used to work with who was a Sikh. I  am the kind of person that engages anyone in conversation regardless of skin color, religion, or what ever difference may exist. As it turns out, he was a nice guy, kind of funny actually. I think many never got to know him because of his head wrap. I've realized we're all the same regardless of our outward wrapping. Humans want the same things - to be loved and accepted, to know they're not in this world alone, to have a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with. I love the various dialects I encounter as I talk to different people - I love the broken English, or patois, or having someone explain a proverb that they say in their native tongue. I also remember working with a Russian programmer who thought a "redneck" was a compliment.  After smiling, I explained that it may be considered a derogatory term.


As Christians, we're all supposed to be one in Christ and yet sometimes Christians are the worse offenders of separating by ethnicity or gender. I know I've felt out of place at church many times because I'm the only brown hued person. Crazy enough, while many think they don't judge they're so many automatic assumptions made about me before I open my mouth. When we first got married, we attended a church on the North Shore of Long Island.  You could feel the initial awkwardness when folks first met us- it was as if they'd never met an intact young black family - but then they quickly got over themselves. Once people get to know us, they realize we don't fit their stereotypes. In some ways though, I do fit their stereotype - I like expressive worship, and music with soul - I'm not a fan of these modern day praise and worship songs.

I guess some of these biases show up because everyone at church may not be a believer or they're still wrestling with their demons.

In Christ, we are one. "Under the blessed spirit of Christianity, they have equal rights, equal privileges, and equal blessings; and, let me add, they are equally useful."(Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Have you ever felt discriminated at church? Do biases prevent you from interacting with others? Pray about it.


Friday, August 3, 2012

Champion

Don't we all wish we could have the title Champion?

Gabrielle Douglas has it.

She's the first African American to win a Gold in the All Around for Gymnastics, and as one of my blogging buddies informed me - this is the premiere event in Gymnastics, what every girl dreams of.

Love is a strong word - but from what I have seen to date I can say emphatically that I love everything about Gabrielle Douglas.
I love her:

  • Faith
  • Strength
  • Athleticism
  • Family Support
  • Beauty
  • Smile
  • Composure
  • Unconventional Parenting by her mother


Here's my favorite Gabrielle Douglas video:


Be encouraged and inspired. Keep God first, everything else will fall in to place.