Speaking of Speaking...

I have actually begun the next section of "Be Fruity", but I thought I would add some video of my recent speaking engagements. On March 23 I was the chapel speaker at my alma mater Judson College in Marion, AL. The night before I was able to speak at the CORE (the weekly student-led worship service) about modern-day slavery. Neither one did I feel I was at my best.

However, before and during chapel, I knew the Holy Spirit was there answering all the prayers I and others have prayed. I know He gave me words to say, and used the ones I chose to speak that probably weren't the best ones to begin with, to His glory. Praise be to Jehovah, the Most High God!!

Then on March 25, I spoke at an event hosted by the Fellowship of Black Seminarians where we watched At The End Of Slavery - a documentary filmed by the International Justice Mission (an evangelical Christian-based political group). We were few in number, but my presentation was 1000x better in many ways than the one at Judson's CORE gathering. There weren't as many questions at the Seminary presentation, but that could be because of the documentary. I do have a more secular version of this presentation in case anybody would like for me to come speak on this topic outside the church setting.

I definitely have a long way to go before becoming a "good" and more spiritually mature speaker, but I am glad to at least get started. I have video from Judson's chapel and the Seminary presentation on my facebook page. If you have time, I would love for you to watch (well, mostly listen) and give me some feedback! God bless, and may the Harvest be plentiful as we serve Him!!

Are you ever in need of a Broom Tree?

1Kings 19:2-8

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.


Elijah is one of those dudes I never thought would ask for his life to be taken. I think God inspired some stories like these to appear in Scripture to show us that even the prophets were - like us - human. They grew weary and frustrated. Some, like Jonah, didn't want to commit themselves to what God asked them to do because they didn't like the command.

This passage stuck out in my mind as I went over all the events of this year. I know, it's only March. However, it has been a tough year so far. The hardest part of this year, and last, has sadly been our congregation.

I won't go into great detail, but let's just say that God used this congregation to teach us perseverance and joy through trial and suffering. However, through the good, bad, and ugly times, we thought we reached a point of deliverance. We thought the congregation was moving forward and showing great promise for the work God set them apart to do.

We were mistaken.

Thomas came home from the church council meeting and told me what happened. In a nutshell, the group looked at him and said, "We shouldn't have to do anything to grow the church. The pastor is the one who does that."

This may not seem like a lot to some, but these people openly stated that the Great Commission does not apply to them, or any congregation, just the pastors.

That makes no sense. Jesus did not specify certain people of the church to fulfill the Great Commission. He looked at everyone and commanded them all to "go and make disciples of all nations." How is it that so many of our churches want to put off the work of God on those with a title? A church, in my husband's words, is a training place and a place of encouragement. It is a place where we go to get the tools we need to continue the good work Christ commands us to complete. How dare we look at Almighty God and say, "I'm not the pastor so that does not apply to me."

Pardon the expression, but that's a load of crap. I'm not always the best Christian, and I certainly am NOT perfect. I don't mean to demean anyone who honestly wants to physically serve God, but can't for one reason or another. There have been plenty of times when I have not wanted and refused to do what God called me to do for one reason or another, and those memories cause me grief and pain.

All that being said, my spirit has simply been down-trodden from their response and their hearts of stone. My husband and I need a broom tree. This is our first church, and we have made so many mistakes. But through it all, we have earnestly tried to remain true to God's calling and commands. We've now come to a point where we want to see God's hand pointing which way we should go. Stay or leave? We've received counsel on both sides, and now we wait. We wait and we pray for a broom tree to be provided in order for us to be refreshed and revived for the journey ahead.

Growing Pains

Do you remember as a kid when your leg would hurt terribly for no reason at all? My parents called them growing pains. I guess they were right; I mean, I am kind of tall for a girl.

Anyway, I am undergoing some serious spiritual growing pains right now. I've always heard the phrase, be careful what you wish or ask for because you just might get it. Well, I've prayed for the Lord Almighty to grow me, and He is answering that prayer. I won't go into details, but an acquaintance of mine put me in my place the other day. I was so embarrassed and ashamed that this person who does not know me very well was able to point out a sin in my life.

Nobody likes to hear the bad things about themselves, but I think it's worse when you realize the bad things about yourself in your own heart. Then you realize how utterly disgusting you are and how phenominally gracious God is to love one such as yourself.

This reminds me of a plan that I've wanted to put into action for some time now. I want to start a speaking ministry called Pearls. My friend Danielle came up with the name. The reason for the name is the connection to the text above. Pearls basically start off as nasty bedsores inside an oyster's mouth. The constantly move the muscle around the grit of sand that has lodged in its mouth until a pearl forms. That is kind of what God does with us. We are like disgusting bedsores until God begins to refine us into something way more beautiful - into Christ's likeness.

Please pray for me as I grow. It hurts, and I could use the encouragement. Also please be in prayer for me and my friends as we consider becoming "Pearls" together to reach out to women.

Thank you for letting me share.

Belgium Tragedy

My heart was broken tonight as I saw on the Yahoo! home page an article about a terrible tragedy about 20 miles outside of Brussels. A young man went into a day care and brutally attacked more than ten people, mostly children. Three died, and the others were taken to the hospital. If you would like to read the whole article go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090124/ap_on_re_eu/eu_belgium_stabbings

Many people who suffer through something like this will often ask, "If there is a kind and loving God, why would He allow such a terrible thing?" This is a difficult question, but in as few words as my husband and I can find, we as Christians will answer it to the best of our ability. It is a hard truth, but one that can lead to great comfort.

God is all gracious and all loving. God created the world to be paradise, but the free voluntary choice of man-kind to rebel against Him caused a chain of events in which suffering is inevitable. It affects the natural world and our relationships with others, strangers and family alike. The worst cases of human depravity, such as a man killing babies, is an example of our fallen nature. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. That Savior came, died, and raised Himself from the dead in order to free us from sin's enslavement and curse. His name is Jesus, and living in a fallen world without Him is the worst tragedy of all.

God bless the parents and loved ones of the slain in Belgium; our prayers are with them tonight.

Below is an excerpt from the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry about evil and suffering. To see the entire page please go to http://www.carm.org/questions/suffering.htm.

"Suffering is the result of human sin. The world is not the way that God created it and because of that, all are vulnerable to the affects of sin in the world. Why does one person suffer and another does not? Why do catastrophes happen to some and no others? It is because sin is in the world. But there will come a day when the Lord will return and cleanse this world of all sin and all suffering.

'And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away' (Rev. 21:4)."

If you would like to know more about this or about Christianity, you are welcome to comment, and I will respond post haste.