March Madness

March madness has always been one of my favorite times of the year. When I was in Shelby recently, one of my high school friends reminded me of the time we had a UNC party and we served Carolina blue pimento cheese sandwiches. Well I wont be doing that this year, but I will be dialed in to the ballgames. My mother traveled with me to a variety of venues for basketball games. As she marveled at the crowd, her comment was always "wouldn't it be wonderful if our churches were this full on Sunday ". I doubt she was just talking about the sheer numbers, although that would be an outstanding Sunday worship service, but she must have also meant the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the event. I never watch a game that I don't ponder her words in my heart. My dad often laughed about the number of times we looked at our watch during church hoping it would be over soon. While at a good ballgame, we cheered fervently for overtime!

Now less you think I am selling out March Madness that is not the purpose of this post; however, the dynamics do merit our attention.
Perhaps this Lenten season we should prepare for our spiritual journey the way we get ready for March Madness. Focus on scripture, the way we absorb information about our favorite team. Arrange our schedule to be in church as faithfully as we carve out time for the big dance. And finally, be the catalyst in our community to help everyone achieve their ONE SHINING MOMENT. Who would have thought basketball and faith had so much in common? My mother and father! Thanks for the lessons you are still teaching.

Passionate Faith

Last night at the Teen Trialogue the moderator asked the question "What means the most to you about your faith?" Our Muslim friends mentioned praying 5 times a day, fasting and the responsibility of personal choice.
Our Jewish friends proclaimed their rich heritage, their value on community and making the lives of others better.
One of our Protestant students looked at me after these responses and said I wish we, meaning Christians were that passionate about our faith.
And my answer, we can be! This Lenten journey gives us the opportunity to pray more fervently, to sacrifice something as a reminder of the responsibility of the choices we make everyday, to show up when the community of faith gathers and to live a life of service to others. You see, we are alike in many ways, but how we Live Out Loud our faith is up to us. We have to step it up! Religion is participatory. it is a relationship with God and one another. It is about serving those we like and those we don't like it. It is about standing up for justice even when it is not popular. It is about being kind all the time, not just when we're in a good mood. It is about doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
So I ask you "What means the most to you about your faith?" And how do others know it?
Take the opportunity this Lenten season, to develop a passionate faith.

Stepping Back in Time

For about six hours yesterday, I was without my cell phone. No, it was not an exercise in discipline for the Lenten season. It was lost, plain and simple. I had dropped it in the parking lot at the women's ACC tournament in Greensboro. But I didn't panic because I have a sidekick that I use to text, so I could still communicate with the outside world. So I proceed with my plans to meet a college student from church for lunch and do a bit of shopping. Life is good, right? Wrong, when I get ready to meet Catherine at the hotel, my sidekick has died and I have no navigation system. Now I am digitally disconnected and I am LOST and ALONE. There are no pay phones, I'm out of town and don't know anyone well enough to ask. I am sure by now Catherine is wondering why I am not responding and has probably called Charlie to alarm him as well. As a last resort, I say a prayer. " Lord, give me patience and let me figure this out." P.S. before dark would be great! So I tried to gather myself and re-group.
My sense of direction is pretty bad but I knew I was staying near the airport so I followed signs toward "airport," but still was not at my final destination. In fact, the sign said Va State line-1 1/4 mile!
Time for prayer again. " Lord, help me figure this out.Show me a sign." And soon, I see the lights on Celebration Station and I know I am close. Finally, an hour later I get to the hotel. As I suspected, Catherine is on the phone with her dad, both worried. I began to replay the entire scenario.
The whole time I was riding around, I kept thinking how dependent we have become on technology. Our GPS has replace the ability to read a map or use road signs and landmarks. How connected we stay to one another 24-7. Talking on the cell phone is second nature. As I write this blog, I am embarrassed to say how desperate I was before prayer was a "go to" option. Doesn't this sum up our 21st century dilemma? We chose everything else to meet our needs but the ONE who can. Following Jesus means risking the safety, security, and success of this world to fully rely on God. IT TOOK ME GETTING LOST, TO FIND MY WAY!

Angels by My Side

One of my friends who has finished her cancer treatments shared some things with me that she has learned during this time. As she commented on her network of friends being instrumental in her journey, I too began to think about the angels by my side during my mother's recent illness and death. I want to share my reflections with you.

A text or phone call(even when I didn't answer), cards in the mail, gift cards for nights Charlie or others didn't cook, cleaning my house, taking mother a "happy meal", sitting with her in rehab,visits to the hospital and emergency room, fresh flowers, pulling up the carpet, teaching Sunday school, leading prayer breakfast, hosting UMYF, prayer chains, pintos and cornbread like my mother made, taking me to Charlotte or Catherine to Chapel Hill, laughter, tears, being at the funeral, childhood friends, feeling the love of two church families, reading my mind, decorating my Christmas tree, thanksgiving meal on wheels, riding the bus to be there for me, understanding when being present was the best I could do and not expecting anything more,navigating medical and financial decisions that were beyond my comprehension, encouraging tweets, writing on cat's wall, filling our fridge and freezer(most unusual sight),loving mamaw as your own, making new friends, going the distance to show us how much we are loved.

In scripture we find that Jesus knows our needs before we even ask. Thank you to everyone who showed me the face of Jesus. You knew my needs before I even asked.

Surely,Goodness and Mercy

Well, it has been awhile since my last post. A lot has happened recently, namely the illness and death of my mother. It's as if someone hit the pause button of life. I feel as if I have not been in the real world since Thanksgiving. A minister friend said to me " you are trying to jump back on the carousel, and it's scary and uneven". He's right, I have never been an orphan before. Thank goodness for my faith which gives me the calm assurance that I can face uncertain days, steps and emotions. As I prepared for my Sabbath women's study this week, A Confident Heart, our lesson was about stepping out of the shadow of doubt. So getting back to my blog and posting on Renee's site(on-line Bible study) have been two of my goals this week. By the way, I recommend her book and study to anyone reading this.

Now back to my message this week. Catherine reminded me this week how the fruits of my relationship with mother came to life in the darkest of time. It is no accident that my Bible study this week talked about living in the LIGHT. My mother gave me the greatest gift ever when I inherited her abiding faith. Through this entire ordeal dating back 5 years ago when she first came to live with us, I never questioned or looked back, I only moved forward in faith. In her final days, mother sought clarity and understanding from the one who knew her best, her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. On the night she died, I gave my first and only concert! I sat by her bed in a dimly lit room and sang some of the church's greatest hymns. "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" because of that divine moment. I believe it brought her as much comfort as it did me.

New Year's Prayer

Dear God,

It's a new year. We reflect on where we have been and where you are calling us in the future. Help us to be patient and listening to your voice, not hurried and pushing our own agenda.

We also feel afresh our baptism this day. What we can't always remember in detail, we still ponder in our hearts. Persons who laid hands on us, parents who promised to keep the faith alive for us and congregations who surrounded us with steadfast love are all part of our recollections.

Awesome God, we are ever amazed at your loving and redemptive powers even when we go astray. Continue to guide and lead us to the star, with our hands reaching upwards.

We pray especially this day for those persons whose world is not joyful because they have not received your gift or whose circumstances do not sparkle with hope. Surround each person here and everywhere with your grace sufficient for all our needs.

In the powerful name of the one who taught us to pray, so we begin the New Year with this prayer : Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE

Everyday is filled with surprises. I got one this week when I went to visit my mother and her room had been stripped of everything, including my mother! My mind raced with every imaginable explanation except the rational one which was simply "she had been moved to another room". It was a reminder to me that the only safe way to proceed in this life is to take Jesus with you every hour of every day. It is comforting to know that by fully relying on Him we can handle any surprise that comes our way. Our strength to face uncertain days, our joy to behold something new today and our prayers for all of our days is supplied by an awesome God through his son Jesus Christ. So I celebrate welcomed and unwelcomed surprises because I know it is precisely the plan God has for me.

Prayer: Father, help me find peace by relying on you.(Matthew 6:8)