Encouragement

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” -- Luke 23:34a At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!” ― Isaac Watts I will never forget the day I gave my life to Christ.  It was a sweltering Sunday morning in June—Children’s Day—and our little Baptist church was packed.  I sat fidgeting on the front pew next to my father. I was eight years old, and I had made up my mind—this was the day. And so when Pastor Lewis offered the invitation to discipleship as he had so many other Sundays before, I leaned over and whispered in Daddy’s ear, “I want to be saved.”  He smiled and nodded, and I nervously stepped forward. Pastor Lewis knelt down, cradled me in his arms, and, after a series of questions, welcomed me into the family of God. I was saved! That was the first of many “salvation” moments in my life.  My seeming inability to "get it right" made me think that perhaps it hadn’t taken the first time, and over the years, I’d rededicate my life to Christ and then rededicate my rededication.  It seemed everyone lived this Christian life better than I did (but that's a subject for another blog post). I've spent time these days leading up to Resurrection Sunday…

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8 NKJV   When I was a child, my mother had a way of communicating with me without speaking a word!  You may be familiar with— the look!  You know the glance says, “Girl, you better sit down now!’’  or “Just wait ‘til I get you home!” My mother had mastered the art of “eye language.”   With a single glance, she’d say, “Don’t play with me!”  or “Get over here right now!” When I sat at the dinner table, staring defiantly at the Brussels sprouts she’d piled on my plate, a simple glance at the plate and then back at me said, “You’re not getting up until you eat every one of them!”  With one glance, she said, “You’re doing a great job!  I’m so proud of you!” or “Yes, you’re on the right track!” or “No need to be afraid; I’m here!”  With one glance, she simply said, “I love you!” Understanding my mother’s “eye language” was easy because of our close, intimate relationship. She knew me; I knew her. She watched over me, kept her eyes on me, and I learned to look to her for guidance, assurance, and even correction. I studied her ways, and I learned to keep my eyes on her. I knew because she loved me,  she wouldn’t steer me wrong. She only wanted what was best for me. I trusted her,…

Unapologetically (Sorry, Not Sorry) But what I am now I am by the grace of God. The grace he gave me has not proved a barren gift. I have worked harder than any of the others - and yet it was not I but this same grace of God within me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 J.B. Phillips Translation    She’d answer the phone speaking in tongues! “Hello, Mother Clark!” I’d say. She’d laugh with such delight as she always did when I called, and she’d say (as she always did), “Ah, Sister Deborah! Daughter, I was just thinking about you!”  She’d barely give me a chance to ask how she was or if she needed anything before she’d go straight prophetic on me, give me a “thus saith the Lord,” pray with me.  I’d hang up, eyes filled with tears and heart filled with gratitude. I admit I don’t remember a lot of those conversations now. But there are some that I will never forget, for the words lodged deep in my spirit.   They didn’t necessarily take root at the time, but recently those words returned to me to heal, shift my perspective, change me, settle me more deeply, and strengthen my resolve. I came home from work one afternoon and called Mother Clark to check on her. She began our conversation by telling me about a segment of the Oprah Show about birth order she’d just watched. Then she said, “You are bold, full of dazzle and sparkle! Full…

On Christmas Eve, my pastor, John W. Stevenson, shared a wonderful message entitled Just Say, "OKAY!"  It reminded me of something I'd  written a few years ago. I thought I'd share it as we prepare to enter a new year to encourage you to just say, "OKAY!" Great acts of God are often preceded by simple acts of obedience. —Steven Furtick I was minding my business, going about my merry way, singing a simple song when I heard the whisper. I knew it was God because the idea wasn’t remotely anything I had ever considered. It wasn’t anything I’d ever dreamed of, prayed for, wished upon on star for. I knew it was God because Deborah wasn’t trying to add one more thing to an already jam-packed life, wasn’t trying to add a morsel to her already full plate. Knew it was God because not only was this something I had never done before, I had no point of reference for it…at all! But I’d heard that still small voice. And once you’ve heard it, you can’t un-hear it. You can ignore it. You can choose to disobey it. You can try to flick it away like a fly. But you can’t un-hear it. And I’d heard. So instead of doing what I’ve done more often than I care to admit. Instead of dismissing it as a whim, instead of offering a litany of excuses why I couldn’t or why I shouldn’t, instead of disqualifying myself, instead of seeking…