I'm Not Scared, But I Could Use Your Prayers

This isn't me!

Tomorrow at noon I'll hop into a rental car and drive five hours to Oregon, IL, to speak at a women's retreat. Four one-hour messages about (what else?) Grace and Laughter.

The first session includes my testimony of how the Lord brought me from a mixed-up, rebellious teenager raised in an alcoholic home to a princess of the King of the Universe. It is a stirring story, and even though it's my own, I always choke up when I tell it. God's grace is so remarkable.


God's love changes how you see yourself

The next three sessions will cover how to receive God's grace for ourselves, how to extend it to others, and how to find more laughter in our lives.

The following weekend I'll do the same thing in a different location: drive five hours to Henry, IL, and share four one-hour long messages, beginning with my testimony. I suspect I'll be emotionally and physically exhausted by the end of the two weekends. My full-time day job Monday-Friday will be squeezed in-between the two retreats.

I'm not scared of driving by myself, I love speaking and singing, and I cherish the opportunity to minister to people who need to hear about God's grace. But I could use your prayers for protection, anointing on my words, open hearts to receive God's love, and for every detail to go smoothly as I speak and travel.

Thank you so much! I appreciate you.

How has Jesus changed your life?

Frog Kissing: Is it Worth It?

Thirty-some years ago I quit piano lessons because I would not discipline myself to practice. Now I'm a speaker, singer, and writer. This year I've spoken 14 times, and I have four more scheduled, plus two radio interviews. I usually sing during each message, so you could say I've sung that same amount of times this year.

And I write a lot.

But I still hate to practice. I must force myself to go over my message notes or songs or edit my writing.

I love the thrill of the initial creation of a message, an article, or a story. But the perfecting of it is tedious, like polishing the silver or ironing a blouse with seventeen buttons. It. Is. Work. Not fun.

Still, it must be done to have a message that speaks to the heart, a book that changes souls, a song that kisses a frog into a prince.


So, when I'm done writing and posting this, I will gather up my music and practice my songs for this Saturday, when I'm speaking and singing for a lovely group of ladies in Chicago. I think they deserve a well-polished message and kisses-filled songs.

And you? Do you like to practice, edit, polish, and iron? Or like me, must you force yourself? Is the kissing worth it?

Cowgirls for Jesus

When Elaine told the theme of the ladies' day I was speaking for last Saturday was "Branded for Christ," I admit the picture that popped into my mind was a room full of women with “JC” seared into their backsides. Not a genteel thought for a pastor’s wife, eh? Well, you know me. I’m not your stereotypical pastor’s wife. Yee-hah!

Behold the cowgirls of Olivet Nazarene Church in Olivet, IL. Ain't they purty?

My message title originated from Hebrews 10:24: “Let us spur one another on to love and good deeds.” Using SPUR as an acrostic, I encouraged these Bible totin', devil bustin' ladies to bring out the gifts in one another by:

Speaking words of encouragement—tell another what you admire about them.

Praying for each other—focus on praying, not saying. Spend more time asking for the answer than rehearsing the problem

Understanding others’ points of view— why doesn't everyone think like I do, when I'm so obviously right? God made us different to complement each other.

Rejoicing with those who rejoice—showing genuine happiness for another’s blessings plants seeds of joy in our future.

After a pint-sized teaching on the first three points, I had the ladies circle up into small groups and practice what we'd heard. On the final point, we stayed in one large circle, sharing what favors God had showered on us. As each cowgirl told her happy news, we all yelled, “Yippee-yi- ay!” while I clanged my dinner triangle.

The cowgirls of Olivet Nazarene Church in Olivet, Illinois were one of the best audiences I've ever spoken to. Some people sit with their arms folded across their chest, daring you to help them grow in the Lord. Not these gals. They pulled the Word out of my heart slicker than pulling off your boots at the end of a long day on the trail. And their chow of beef stew, corn muffins and apple crisp made my innards smile, too!

Do you think of "Spurring one another to love and good deeds" as a positive or painful thing? What letter of the acrostic spoke to you today?