Lead by Example

One lady that I have a lot of admiration and respect for came to visit us a few weeks back.  For  three years I was able to observe Mrs. Theresa Lucas in action.  Her husband, Leon Lucas, was our pastor when we lived in North Carolina.  A more diligent, thankful, and sweet woman you will never find; but the characteristic or attribute I want to thank her for demonstrating to me is in the area of prayer.  Proverbs 8:17 says -  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
 Mrs. Lucas always encouraged everyone around her to pray before you began anything...and I mean anything and everything.  Before we began any activity- she prayed, before she turned the car engine on to travel anywhere -she prayed, before we began to practice for a song- she prayed, before she began to cook dinner- she prayed. 

I don't know if it's just my personality, or pride, or what; but I tend to dive into things that I think I am capable of handling without prayer; forgetting that the scriptures tell us that ...."I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5
Thank you Mrs. Lucas for the reminder!
Until next time,

 

 

Be Careful What You Pray For...

Some time ago I mentioned that when we moved into our new home we had a HUGE mouse problem.  To date we have caught eleven in traps (two that we know of got away), Nikitta has killed three, and our new guest ( I believe) has beaten us all.

I really, REALLY, REALLY, don't like mice; especially in my home.  (This includes all forms of mice like hamsters and such.)  I am not really afraid of them; but I think they are gross and it would be incredibly embarrassing to me if I had guests and they spotted them (or their evidence) in my home. The first type of trap we bought looks like this -

except in black.  We filled them with peanut butter initially; but that didn't seem to work.  After a bit of research I discovered they like dog or cat food; so we put Nikitta's food in them and we started catching them in multiple numbers per trap.  Unfortunately after about three weeks they figured out how to eat all the dog food then escape.  BUMMER!!!  Next we tried this -

This is an electronic beeper thing that is supposed to keep mice, spiders, and some other pests away.   I can't reccomend them.  We placed the afore mentioned traps full of dog food directly under these things and the next morning the traps were empty...no mice and no food.  We thought, well, maybe they need some time.  A week later Nikitta was tired of making donations to the mice with no results, so we quit filling the traps with her food. 

All of this being said, we saw an influx of mice in March when the farmers began to work in the fields around us.  I finally broke down and bought traps with poisin in them.  We found two dead baby mice. I haven't seen any mice (dead or alive) since March.  I did make it a matter of prayer from the beginning and I thought maybe the beeping things were finally working until I saw this in my yard.

The girls and I were coming home from the library and  this guy was relaxing right in front of our front steps in my "flower bed".  No, I did not scream; but I did pick up Cassidy and command Aaliyah to follow me to the back door.  I scared my husband to death pounding on the back door.  He prompty went to see the snake; but he/she was already gone.  I wish I could say say this was our last encounter; but last Sunday I saw it again.  Of course it escaped again before my husband saw it.  After doing a little research I found out that this is called a black or chicken snake.  It is non-venemous and loves to eat rodents!  I really believe this is our answer to prayer for our mouse problem.  I also have seen the carcasses of two squirrels near our house that I believe Mr. Black snake is responsible for.  

Our Lord definately has a sense of humor.  I don't like mice; but I detest and am definately afraid of snakes; but I have put my fear in check (2 Timothy 1:7 -  

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.) and I am learning to be thankful even for this snake; but I am watchful EVERY time I step outside of our house!  Also I learned that the larger ones like to live in trees - we have five pecan trees and two oak trees surrounding our house...I now will be looking up as well as down when I leave the house - keeping in mind that if this is my answer to prayer, I don't think the Lord sent it here to harm us!

Until next time,

Thank You! (4)

I would like to say thank you to a very special person whom I will not name.  (Really this thank you is for a special family.)  When I was a Senior in high school I moved out of our home and moved into the dormitory of our church's college.   Because of this my needs were not immediately apparent to my family as the number of times they saw me decreased drastically.  {Knowing what I know now, I wish I had waited until I was in college to move away from home; but the Lord knows what is best.  I say this because that year I lost one of my brothers to a car accident; and a couple of years later I lost the other one to a drive by shooting.} 

 I can only imagine how I must have looked that would inspire such generosity; but in August of 2000 a lady took me on a shopping spree.  How cool is that!!!  I spent no money; but returned to the dorm with SEVERAL undergarments, slips, and pantyhose; four new skirts; and several blouses.    What a tremendous blessing this family was to me during my time in college.  I will NEVER forget that.  So, to you wonderful people who look around for someone to bless, Thank you!!! 

 Lesson:  Don't ask someone if they have a need when they obviously do; Do what you can to help, or keep your mouth shut. I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course!

Until next time,

Thank You (4)

Today I would like to say thank you to Bro. and Sister Jackson.  I am not quite sure where to begin, except to say that my relationship began with them when they visited our home one Friday evening to invite our family to church.  Bro. Jackson was the captain of bus number eight (the greatest bus in the world!!!).  They invited us to ride their bus to visit Windsor Hills Baptist Church.  I was about 12 or 13 at the time.  We went the very next Sunday (upon my Grandma's insistence) and continued for about  7 years.  The Jacksons took me into their home and I became family. They became extended family to my whole family.  I remember my mother making chitterlings for Bro. Jackson every Thanksgiving and Christmas.   Mrs. Jackson treated me like one of her daughters.  I needed that and I appreciate all that you both did for me!!!  Thank you Bro. and Sister Jackson for loving me.  I can say without a doubt that I WOULD NOT be serving the Lord today if it wasn't for you two.

Until next time,

Thank You! (3)

Today I would like to say thank you to a very special lady, Dena Bowden.  I can't tell you how much I learned from Dena.   If ever I met a person who would give you the shirt off her back, it would be Dena.  One time a college student told her that she liked her shoes and she literally took them off and gave them to her, no joke. Not only is she a very giving lady; but she also is a prayer warrior.  There were several times I knew that she was praying and fasting, not because she told me; but because I practically lived with her during the summer when I was in high school (I babysat her boys).  She and her boys became extended family.  My mother calls Dena my "White" mother.   Dena, I love you and I am so very thankful to know you!  You taught me so much, and as I reflect back to those "good old days" (now that I am also a mother) I see things from a new point of view and it makes me even more thankful that I knew you then.  Love ya!

Until Next Time,

Thank you (2)

In 1997, about 14 years ago, I was sitting at the lunch table at my Christian School when a young lady by the name of Emily Ross (now Emily Hansen) said to me, "Wow, you have piano fingers!". I had never even touched a piano before in my life; but I took her very seriously.  I went to a piano recital, heard her play, and thought to myself...I can do that!  I signed up for lessons the next semester. I didn't have any money and I didn't ask my mom for any either.  I guess I thought the lessons were free...well, they weren't; but my mom did agree to give me the five dollars a week I needed for the lessons.    My piano teacher, Ms. Sunny Yoon, was probably the toughest teacher available; but I liked her a lot. I sometimes need extra prodding :) 

It didn't prove as easy as I thought it would be; but I continued with the lessons for five years.  When I got to collage, she was no longer available to teach me and I got a little busy, so I discontinued the lessons.  I did practice a lot when I had free time and I agreed to play at a care home during my last year of collage and the year after.

So what is the point and who am I saying thank you too?!? First I would like to say thank you to Emily for commenting on my fingers : ).  You never know what affect the statements you make in passing will have on someone. 

Second, I would like to say thank you to Coach Price.   I like to be successful, and I like to be successful NOW.  I don't often have much patience with myself and I don't like to fail.  One day I was in the cafeteria practicing and he came downstairs and said to me, "Don't rush it.  Be patient, and just keep at it!"   That statement helped me to relax.  My skill would improve if I would just kept practicing and had a little more patience with myself.  Just for the record, he wasn't my couch.  He was the men's dorm supervisor.  I am not a man and I didn't live in the dorm; but he was willing to go out of his way to speak those words that have blessed my tremendously.  When I get all tensed up about some piece I am trying to perfect, I often hear his voice in the back of my mind.

Third, I would like to say thank you to My friend Maria's mom - Mrs. McNamar  .   One day I was practicing in the college chapel and she asked me to sing the song I was playing.  I told her that I couldn't sing and play at the same time.  To which she responded, " You could if you tried."  Well, about ten years later I was the pianist for the church where I taught in the Christian School  (Haughten Christian Academy/Haughten Baptist Temple in Haughten, Louisiana) and I was asked to sing and play at a dear Christian woman's funeral.   This lady was probably the godliest woman I have ever met and she was always so sweet to me.  Who was I to refuse?  So, I swallowed my pride and did it.  And do you know what?  I lived to tell about it and I have been singing and playing ever since.  This has been a tremendoud blessing to my husband in our ministry her in Newport.  I am not the greatest by the stretch of anyones imagination.  I desire to take lessons to improve for the glory of God; but I use this skill almost three times a week.  My encouragement to you is to 1.) Speak words to others that will challenge and encourage them. 2.)  Use your gifts and talents for the Lord as they are.  The more you use them, the faster they will improve. And,  3.)  Don't let fear of failure stop you from doing anything.  I am learning this lesson.  There are so many things that I didn't do because Ididn't think I would be good at that I wish I had started or stayed with.  I am adding these pictures of Aaliyah to show that I may not be the best vocalist or pianist; but I have a little girl who loves to imitate her Mommy at the piano, and another one who loves to hear me play.

Until next time, 

Thank You (1)

I have decided to start a series of letters to friends, family, and such who have been a blessing to me in the past. There are so many people who took an interest and invested in my life as a young person who I never said thank you to because I didn't know just how blessed I was (and still am).  If the Lord allows me to be half the blessing to others as these dear people have been to me I will be grateful. 

The first family I would like to say thank you to is...

The Hardings. 

Bro. Harding was my principle and Bible teacher when I was a Senior in high school; and he taught a few of my classes in college.  He also ministered to my family by way of his Sunday School class at Windsor Hills Baptist Church.  He and his wife were probably the best example of a loving couple I have ever seen.  She adored him and he adored her.  He also made prayer and being sensative to the Holy Spirit real to me.   Recently he was at a church about an hour away from us preaching on a Sunday evening, so after our service ended we went over to hear him.  What a blessing!  If you have not heard of his ministry check it out HERE.  One of the things I remeber praying about when I was praying for a husband was that he NOT be an evangelist.  They are on the road so much of the time and I didn't think that was the "calling" for me.  I would like to say a special thank you to Mrs. Harding for sharing her husband with us.  America needs his ministry.  I needed to hear what he had to say and be challenged to pray for America and be more active politically for my children's sake. Thank you Bro. Harding and Sister Harding for blessing my life!