Not My Own

While I sit and watch the news, my heart breaks for those on the East Coast who have lost their homes or their lives from this devastating storm.  I am in awe of those nurse heroes clutching on to newborn babies, while carrying them down flights of stairs in hospitals to get them to safety. I understand not everyone was able to evacuate for certain reasons. What I don't understand are those who decided to stay in their homes and "ride out" the storm. I don't understand why they didn't listen to officials who highly advised and warned people of the severe dangers approaching. Now some of these people are dead. Before the storm hit, I listened to a testimony of a man who said, "I'm a New Yorker! No storm is gonna take me down! Besides it's never as bad as they say."This man's pride and arrogance may have cost him his life or home by now. I don't know whatever happened to him. But his attitude infuriates me! The warnings were so obvious th...

Pedaling as fast as I could uphill I realized, my son was no where in sight! Where was he? Someone else had him and I had no idea who. I had to find him. Thunder clasped and lighting struck right in front of me. Pedaling faster and harder wondering..."Where is my son?!!!!" Next thing I knew my bike was gone and I found myself in a room with other people surrounded by terrorists with guns. Out of all the people the main terrorist leader told Desmond and I that we would be the first dead if we disobeyed or the first set free if we did what they said. My brain frantically  thought of ways to save my son. The walls of the room were gone and I was swimming with Desmond on my back. Waves kept crashing over us. I picked him up and raised him as high above the water as I could so he could try to breathe.  I was helpless as my son kept gasping for air.  "Honey, wake up. Sam! Wake up. I need your help, Desmond has a fever." - Says, my husband. He has never bee...

I have been playing ball ever since I was old enough to throw a ball. I played competitively on school teams, travel teams, and even in college. I LOVED everything about softball. More than the game, I loved being part of a team. I loved playing and learning with girls who were not always my best friends but we still had to learn to play together. I have learned endless life lessons from the game itself and being part of team. As much as I loved softball I also loved youth group and going to church. It was a never a doubt in my mind that I loved God way more than softball. I wish I could say the same for what people thought about me. I remember a few conversations in high school with some people at church. Sometimes I missed church or youth events because I had a tournament or even practices on Sundays.  I remember practicing Sundays once and while and rushing to church to try and catch the last hour of youth group. I would come in with my softball outfit on. I always felt love...

I handed my baby boy over to his day care teacher and I ran out the door to get as much done as possible in the next five hours baby free! My mind was racing with a to do list. Gotta prioritize! What should I get done first? On the way out the door for some random reason this hill caught my attention in the parking lot. There was nothing fancy about it but I noticed a trail going up it and I wondered where this trail went. I continued walking to my car like those old lady mall workers on a mission. No time for hiking today, I gotta stick to my schedule. "Go up the hill." - Said some voice in my head. "Can't! I need to utilize every minute possible! I will do it later." - Said my own voice in my head. I couldn't stop myself from staring at the hill with one hand on the handle of my car door. "Go up the hill. I want to tell you something." - Said THAT voice in my head. Maybe if I go up this hill God will give me some answers to all the u...

Wife: Why didn't you tell me? Husband: Because I didn't want to argue and make you mad. Wife: But I am finally feeling better about it.  Husband: You are? How could you be feeling better when now we are fighting? Wife: Because I rather be together arguing than not communicating at all. This is a discussion Andrew and I had once during an argument. It was a profound moment for Andrew when he realized arguing wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Although it's rough in the moment, often times arguing is part of the healing process while I learn more about myself and my husband. I learned from this discussion that often times we treat God the exact same way. We stick our heads in the sand and pretend everything is OK with God who already knows everything! Why do we think we can hide from God? Why do we choose to avoid and not talk to God? God knows us better than anyone! Even when we go to God in anger and or frustration I believe God is thrilled that we are final...

Most teenagers I talk with describe their life to me as if they live in a pressure cooker feeling pressure from all angles in their life to succeed. They tell me they are in activities they don't even care for because their parents tell them it will look good on their college application letter. Students burn themselves out before they even get to college. Why? So that they can succeed! These kids are so overwhelmed by all these activities they often forget to just stop and enjoy life. Often I ask, "Where do you feel the most pressure from?" The answer is always the same... Parents. Isn't that what parents are suppose to do? They are suppose to give every opportunity they can to help their kid succeed! Isn't that the most important thing in life? Some parents say, "No, I just want my kid to be happy." Or "No, I just want my kid to feel loved." I wonder how many teens are truly happy or truly feel deeply loved. When I ask students, "...

Tuesday night, I had the privilege of participating in The Bridge Ministry (http://www.bridgeministry.org/about/jefferson-street-bridge/) .  This ministry is the best picture of Church I have seen! It's so beautiful! There are a variety of ages, races, classes, all coming together to worship God under a bridge where many homeless residents in Nashville reside. Trucks show up and unload food, clothes, and a variety of different donations for those in need. People show up to volunteer to help distribute these items and to help lead a worship service. This is a church but it doesn't meet on Sundays, doesn't collect an offering during the service, doesn't take attendance, doesn't have an assigned pastor, and doesn't have bulletins or slide shows. This is a church who actually spends time, effort, and money doing the things Jesus called us to do. Instead of just listening to a sermon and going home, after church volunteers help pass out food and/or clothes to ...