Christmas High Tea

Last year, I was invited to a Christmas Tea sponsored by a local church. At the tea, there was an opportunity to volunteer to host a table for the following year. Guess who signed up!

I've always loved entertaining and have been sad the last few years having a smaller abode without room to host parties. This was a great outlet for me.

There is one hitch! I do not have any China or elegant dishes anymore. I've moved so frequently from city to city and state to state that I've given a lot of it back to my mom for safe keeping.

I had to find a way to get a hold of dishes for this event without breaking the bank.

I went to work visiting thift shops and online postings on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

That did the trick and allowed me to acquire beautiful dishes at a low cost. 

I was able to host 8 ladies with whom I work. What a lovely evening of fellowship, worship songs, an encouraging speaker in a beautiful setting. Each gal felt like a precious jewel! I was so pleased to be part of this lovely event! Perhaps I'll host next year!

Teetering

Do you ever feel like you're teetering in life? Imagine how this rock feels!

Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

For I am the Lord God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41: 13. 

Take comfort in God knowing where you are and how deep in the pit you feel. 

You are not forgotten. 

You are not abandoned. 

You are not alone. 

You are loved. 

You are worth more than this world can offer. 

You Were Made to Be You

I was making macaroni and cheese as a dish to pass for Labor Day. In the box of pasta, there was 1 pasta that was not like the others. 

The shape was the same. 

The size was the same. 

The function was the same. 

The color was different. 

In a world of imitators, there is only one Creator. We were uniquely made by the Creator to fit a purpose that only you could fulfill. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14. 

Embrace your uniqueness. You were made special for this time, this place, and this purpose. 

Focus on the Family

The non-profit organization, Focus on the Family, was founded in 1977 to put a focus on Christ being the center of individual lives and families. 

I had the great fortune of visiting the campus of this worldwide organization recently while in Colorado Springs. 

The large campus features a Welcome Center that shows films, has a bookstore, dishes up delicious treats, and more!

I was particularly taken with a hallway filled with flags from around the world. Nothing new for me. Still attracted to international items after all these years. 

Worldly Labels

Our society tells us we have to be something specific to be adored and celebrated. God says different. 

In the wake of body shaming, slut shaming, bullying, and so many other menaces to our sense of self, it is hard not to get swept away by the waves crashing over us all day everyday. 

I saw this shirt recently in a children's store (not my first post about inspirational clothing in kid sizes).

Enough of the labels of what culture says we should be.

Enough of the labels of what we put on ourselves. 

Let's celebrate our unique talents that God created in us.

Let's stop comparing ourselves to what society says we should or should not be. 

Strengths Finder 2.0

I have always been drawn to personality quizzes like Myers Briggs, Jung's Learning Styles, and so many others. 

One profile tool is the Strengths Finder which is composed of 34 different types that describe a person's strengths. 

I went to an interview once where they provided this book to me as part of the interview. Each book has a unique code that allows you access to the quiz. 

In my current organization, my new manager requested that each team member in our specific team take the quiz. Our goal is to celebrate each other's strengths and leverage them to catapult the effectiveness of projects. 

My top 5 strengths are: 

1. Activator
2. Maximizer
3. Achiever
4. Input
5. Ideation

It makes me think of the song "We Are Many Parts" just like it talks about in 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27. We are have gifts and talents to share to make this a better world and to reach the lost. 

Beauty in the Midst of Chaos

I was at the beach recently and standing on a wooden overlook peering at the ocean. I looked down and there was weeds, reeds, plants in a chaotic, unkempt mess. As I stared at it longer, I noticed a small purple flower. It was the unsung part of the thicket. 

We find ourselves in the storm of life periodically. One moment we're wading in the water, letting the waves lap on our toes. The next moment, a wave takes us under. 

We find in scripture that Jesus was with his disciples on a boat in Mark 4, which was Jesus' idea by the way. Some of the disciples are seasoned fishermen and are no stranger to water, waves, and storms. 

That particular day, the storm was so threatening that the disciples were fearing for their lives. Remember, they were experienced. 

They look to Jesus knowing he's done miracles before. He's the savior--he can help somehow. Lo and behold, Jesus is asleep. The disciples anxiety climbs through the roof because the savior is not in a position to save. 

Jesus wakes up in the midst of chaos. He speaks to the waves and calms the storm. The disciples are astonished that Jesus spoke to the waves and they obeyed. They didn't know how he could help but they were sure he could help somehow. That was not what they expected. 

In the midst of the chaos is where we glean lessons in life. The Israelites learned in the midst of the dessert. Rachel grew stronger in the midst of her infertility.

At first glance, the chaos is the star of the show. At a closer look, there are pearls of wisdom and treasures to behold.

While you're in the midst of chaos, take a closer look. There may be a treasure waiting for you.

Fog Smoke Ahead

I saw this sign tipped over on the expressway this past week. In Florida, we haven't had a lot of rain lately which has caused forest and brush fires. 

I got thinking to myself how nice it would be if we had this type of warning in our lives.

Fight ahead.

Abuse ahead.

Tragedy ahead.

Struggle ahead.

Broken heart ahead.

Family division ahead.

Financial difficulty ahead.

Loss of a loved one ahead.

Scripture tells us that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). God gives us what we need to know at that moment but not before. 

God's will may not be fulfilled if we have too much notice of blessings and difficulties in our lives. God keeps us on a "need to know" basis to protect us.

God loves us.

God is love.

Run the Race

Life is a journey. Some view it as a race. 

Paul refers to life as a race in Acts 20:24 and in 1 Corinthians 9:24. 

Let us run the race with the Lord's help!

Peaceful Night

I love the moon shining on the ocean. It is such a peaceful sight to see. 

Genesis 1:16 tells us that "And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.

May we find beauty in the creation of the Lord.

When Nothing is Happening

Sometimes it is hard when you're waiting for something be it a blessing or good news. It is especially hard when it appears that nothing is happening and there is no evidence of anything happening. 

The disciples felt this way when Jesus was crucified. It appeared that he was dead and their time with him was over. Some ran away, some went back to their jobs, and others were never heard of again. 

Once Jesus died on the cross, he was physically laying in a grave for a few days. Seemingly, dead and signaling the end of his work. 

The reality is that Jesus was busy at work in the spirit world in those few days that his body was laying in a tomb. 

Colossians 2:14 tells us that Jesus canceled the record of debt against us. Revelation 1:18 tells us that Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades. 

Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we are no long slaves to sin and death. Jesus's sacrifice was enough for everyone and every sin. Jesus made sure of it by cancelling the record of debt and taking back the keys of death and Hades. All the while, his body was in a tomb. 

Jesus talked about the time to take down the kingdom of darkness is now in John 12:31.

When there seems to be nothing moving toward the blessing you've been waiting for, rest assured that we serve a God who does not sleep. He's on the clock all the time!

Easter Celebration

Easter is a wonderful celebration for Christians. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus we would be forever slaves to sin and death.

Jesus conquered the grave of eternal death and separation from God. He lives today because he conquered the grave. He still has the power to conquer the grave where your dreams lie dormant and where your hopes have gone to rest. Jesus has the power to resurrect your hopes and dreams.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. We focus on the blessing of salvation and life eternally with God. 

Passover

A woman from our small group brought matza ball soup and salad to accompany unleavened bread. She has just experienced a seder dinner that had been modernized by incorporating Christian scriptures to enhance the Jewish celebration of Passover (see Exodus 12). 

We ate the soup and salad along with some unleavened bread. Later, we read out of a Messianic Passover Haggadah booklet. 

We read in 1 Corinthians 11:26 that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim Jesus' death until he comes again. 

The unleavened bread at the table had holes in it symbolizing the holes in Jesus' hands, feet, and side. The bread also had burn marks symbolizing that by his stripes we are healed. 

The bread is unleavened meaning it does not have yeast. Jesus warned us about having yeast mixed in and the effects. Yeast transforms the dough and makes it puffed up. We are not called to be puffed up and transformed by something other than the Father. 

What a beautiful tradition to celebrate one of God's monumental works in the Jewish history, our history. God protected those who obeyed him by sprinkling blood on their door posts. Those who obeyed were spared from death.

Invisible Tattoos

Curious title for this post. 

I was in Starbucks recently using a gift card from the SavingStar app. I got a grande dark roast brewed coffee with almond milk, vanilla powder, and nutmeg powder (my usual order). 

Whilst sitting in the café, I was on a conference call with my team at work. My ears were dedicated to the call but my eyes were roaming around taking in the sights. 

There was a couple who was waiting for their order, mid-twenties and tattooed. The guy had a word in Old English font, vertically positioned from his wrist up to his elbow. Since his fingers were pointed toward the ground, it was upside down. Without straining and tipping my head (and looking obvious), I used my best deduction to decipher the letters. 

It came clearer as a few moments passed. 

Suddenly, it became clear: D - I - R - T - Y.

My first impression was that it seemed to match. He was unshaven, wearing a stained t-shirt and sneakers with the laces untied and untucked. Then I looked closer.

It struck me in that moment how I feel that way sometimes. Dirty. I may not have a tattoo that says it outright to the world. My actions and reactions do the talking for me and are louder than any tattoo.

How about you? Does your past make you feel dirty? Even if you've been saved and set apart by Jesus?

According to 1 John 1:7, the blood of Jesus washes away sin. Isaiah 1:18 tells us that we will become white as snow even though are sins have made us like scarlet.

We may know this in our head and may have even publicly declared this from our own mouths. Has it sunk in to a point that we embraced this truth?

You are not dirty to the core. You are God's masterpiece and may have gotten dirty along the way. In love and mercy, God washes us white as snow and takes away all the filth forever.

Dear friend, ask the Lord to give you a new tattoo and remove the dirty tattoo.

Mountain-Moving Faith

When I had written about having faith the size of a mustard seed (here), I hadn't been to the Rocky Mountains. 

A business trip to Colorado was the occasion for me to see these mountains with my own eyes. The pure majesty of these mountains had me captivated. 

I have a new respect and understanding of a small amount of faith can move a mountain. 

I took this photo from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO.

On and Poppin'

We received these at work! No commentary needed!

Faith & Abraham

Many people credit Abraham with having monumental faith that moved mountains, this includes the author of Hebrews. He did have faith. He was also just a man. A man with faith is still a flawed man. So am I. So are you.

Can we have that same mountain-moving faith? Galatians lists the fruit of the Spirit. Faith is on that list. We can have faith because God supernaturally downloading it into our system. He is the author and perfect or of our faith. Since he is the author of faith, that tells me that faith comes from on high.

Jesus talked a lot about faith during his short time on earth doing ministry. He told many that they were healed by their faith. He was also the one who pointed out those were of little faith. Faith in him and his father was a priority for him. He said that if we had faith of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), we could move mountains by our word. That's what I'm talking about!

I saw this shirt in the toddler clothing section at Target. I thought it was cute. Then, I thought to myself "why don't they have these for adults?"  Adults need encouragement, too.

We need to have faith. We need the Lotd Almighty to help us with our faith and in our unbelief.

Our small group discussed faith recently. In preparation, I felt that we needed a reminder. I put together the mustard seed scripture and a quote and packaged it with a mustard seed. We can have a mustard seed to look at as a gentle nudge that faith sustains us in the tough times and smooth times, too.

Masterpiece

That's you! Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's workmanship. In the Greek, workmanship is the word poiéma (ποίημα), the origin of the English word "poem."

You are God's poem. 

You are God's artwork. 

You are God's workmanship. 

No excuses. 

No exceptions. 

No take backs. 

You are God's MASTERPIECE.

For reference: 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

An Office With A View

Doesn't that sound nice?

Instead of a corner office or one with a view, I have a cubicle that I share with a wonderful coworker. I could not ask for a nicer person to share space with at work. 

Since I do not have a view, I add things to my space to inspire me. I like my environment to be colorful (this is not a prerequisite to marrying an African, but it helps!)

Below is a photo of my work area and here is a list of things I keep around: 

• A miniature Haitian painting
• Quotes about travel
• Wicker cup holder
• A Bible
• My coffee cup
• Post-its
• Antique world map mouse pad
• Arc binder

God's Promises

It was a normal workday morning: prep to go to work and the morning commute. It had rained overnight and was partly cloudy and misty.

I was driving my normal way to work on autopilot not really paying attention to my already familiar surroundings. All of a sudden, I glanced in another direction (as one does while driving) and saw a rainbow.

Rainbows always catch my attention. I'm not sure if it's because I had the Muppet Movie soundtrack on 8 track as a kid, or if God's periodic creation calls to me.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me. 

For reference:

I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13 NET