Brand New Way....To Pray!

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I had the pleasure of seeing our girls in a Christmas play at church. They put on a mini-concert, complete with acts, songs, dances and prayer! It was an amazing feat for a youth pastoral team to get 40 kids, ages 5-11 to cooperate and choreograph as one. But they did it. There were a few hiccups here and there but for the most part, it was wonderful. 

The storyline was simple. The church group (kids) had to find a place outside of church to go and minister in song during the holiday season (per their pastor's request). The "clique" wanted to go and do it at the mall because they could "kill two birds with one stone" and shop too. The mall manager didn't want them to come because they were gonna minister and not bring reindeer, nativity scenes, etc. Just them! He declined. Well another suggestion was a shelter in downtown. This did not go over so well because the girls were afraid that the "homeless" would be too "scary." And one of the group suggested, "Let's ask Jesus to protect us in the NEW thing." A light came on. For me and a lot of others in the room. I could see it. 

Many times we we fear the unknown and we embrace the familiar. The mall was a comfort zone for the girls but the shelter was a "challenge." I am hearing 2011 for a lot of us will be a challenge. A challenge to buck the known and the familiar. To get out of the "norm" and do something radical. To "trust" who you say you believe..."Jesus." I was talking to a friend today and she is clearing her plate of the "familiar" and putting on some huge challenges. I took the plunge six months ago when I decided that God plan was better than ANYTHING I could cook up. And in just three months, I hosted our first "Woman-to-Woman" conference. I accomplished one and now he said, "You got it, now GO!" 

I want to encourage you not to make "idle threat" resolutions for the new year that you know you want to accomplish but have not decided to dump the "norm" and make room for the NEW. You will only look back with regret and disappointment at what you thought were great intentions.

Its a Brand New Day...Yeah Yeah! I Made My Choice, I will listen for His Voice. I found a Brand New Way to Pray! Yeah Yeah!

Happy New Year to All!

Don't Forget Your Pills...

Christmas Day was a blessed day for many of us as it was the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. As we so eloquently do, we "rig" it up with food, gifts, travel, video and photos, ball games and everything we can think of. All of those things are fine and as long as Jesus remains the focus, a blessing.

This morning, I was getting the family ready for services and I got that call we always hate. The one that says a loved one is in the hospital or not doing well. The call came from my sister-in-law. It's Dad. Thirty minutes after I talked to him last night, he went to the Emergency Room with chest pains. His friend was there with him so God had someone in place! The ER doc noticed the issue that got him there and immediately began treatment and processed him for admission. His friend notified family and here we go!

My Dad, like many of us, have health conditions that has caused him to be on maintenance medications. He told me this morning from his hospital chair that he decided not to take a few here and a few there because he was feeling alright! WHAT you say???? I was floored. He has done this before. And I don't know if it won't happen again but I do know I want him to be better now, not later. As his baby, I feel so lost and helpless 2,200 miles away tucked away in my home in Arizona and he is in a cold, sterile hospital room in Tennessee. But family is going to the rescue. I got my cousins, aunts and friends calling and headed out there to see him. My Dad is a great father and I want to know that when he is not feeling well, someone, if not me, is there to be a helping and supportive hand. So Dad, the Calvary is coming. And please don't get mad, I know how you like to chill by yourself. You can spank me later (smiling coyly)

My parting words today are these: Even though we are celebrating and having a great time this holiday season, please know that our family members, old and young are fighting battles or may come into harms way. So while we pray for everything else, pray for good health and physical safety as well. HEALTH is one thing you cannot purchase at the Mall. Take your Pills!

40...the New Me!

When I was a younger girl, I remember parties celebrating becoming a teenager, a sweet teenager, getting old enough to be responsible for yourself and then turning an age where you could drink to your heart’s content. After that, I never really paid attention to the birthdays milestones. My mom and dad seemed OLD and not 30s and 40s old, but like no teeth and pureed food old. Why did I think that? I never gave getting that old a thought…til now. In less than 12 hours, I will be 40 years old. That’s four decades, two scores or forty (40)-365 day periods, however you want to see it. I did take a few days and recollect on what I did in those years and it really came down to this…NOT MUCH! I did graduate high school, college, get married and some other great things but other than that, the spectacular, in my opinion, hasn’t manifested. I have two big dreams that can ONLY come true through the Lord’s intervention and my perseverance. The former element is a given if it be His will for me and the latter, well, its simple…it time to put up or shut up. I have to apologize for several people who have heard me say big things and haven’t accomplished much more than hype and a few minor accomplishments. I have been lazy, not really believing that it would work. I know Oprah, who was once an anchor on the news never dreamed the day she would own her OWN network, would be realized. Well, January 1, 2011, she will own it! Now, that leaves me. What am I to do with these big dreams of mine? Is it too late? Should I move on and do what I “can?” Or should I just quit making excuse one after another and as the old folks used to say, “Piss or get off the pot?” I am creative, smart, entrepreneurial and even driven, but am I destined for the greatness I seek? Well, I got the answer…World, Happy 40^th Birthday to Karla Denise Woods Stephens! The new ME is here!

Be Blessed!