When I was a little girl, I would wish the days to go by faster- to get to summer or spring break, or the weekend, or my birthday or Christmas or whatever other fun thing was coming along. my grandmother would look at me and say, ‘don’t wish your life away’. I didn’t know what she meant then, but I do now.

James 1:2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience. 4 But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind. 7 Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (MEV)
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Ya’ll know how I feel about praying for patience – there’s only one way to develop it, and that’s to use it. Just like a muscle; it isn’t going to get stronger unless it’s exercised.
And it’s certainly hard to be happy when you’re going through things – I’ve talked to several close friends lately who’ve been put through the ringer. It ain’t fun. It ain’t a good time. It’s TOUGH.
So yesterday, as I was riding to Bible study, I had to pull over to put my gloves on – and while I was stopped, I remembered these verses. I’d had a headache since last Thursday- not a really bad one, just enough to make me think about it, and enough to keep my attention slightly off center. There were several places I went over the weekend that I had to fight to make myself go- the youth rally Saturday night, church Sunday morning, Bible study last night. I knew I needed to be there but it was hard not to just sit at the house and fight this headache.
I”m standing there, beside the road, wind blowing in my face, trying to get my gloves on right while watching oncoming traffic, and I finally had enough. I reminded the “passenger” that’s been trying to ride me since last week that there was only ONE empty spot on that seat, and it didn’t belong to him. I rode off, and within just a little bit, my headache was gone. I guess I left it out by Dong Won, with the one who’s been causing it.
Ya’ll be careful who (and what) you give a ride to.

It’s New Year’s again- so many folks making resolutions for this year… I’d like to share some of the best advice I ever got; maybe it will help you stay on track with your goals.
When my older daughter was born, her dad and I spent the first few days after the hospital at my folks’ house. All I had to do was take care of that precious baby and Mama took care of cooking, laundry, etc. She helped me learn how to give Mary Beth a bath, make sure her bottles were the right temperature, and everything else that came with taking care of a new baby.
Then when it was time to take her home, while Tommy and Mama packed the car, I sat in the porch swing with Daddy and held her. I started crying and Daddy wanted to know why – so I told him I was scared to death. I wasn’t sure I could do it- all the things that go with taking care of a baby! So many things to remember, so many things to be careful about- sticking her with diaper pins, having the milk too hot, diaper rashes… the list just went on and on.
So Daddy said, ‘What’s the very first thing you’re going to do when you get home?” I told him I would fix bottles for the next 24 hours; then he said, “then what?” so I said, “wash some diapers and get them ready.”
Then he said, “Don’t look past that- just get those two things done, and then figure out the next thing. Don’t think of everything you’ve got to do, just the next thing.”
And somehow that lifted the whole burden off me. I didn’t have a hundred things to do next, just one or two.
So as you’re working through the next few days, getting your goals in mind, don’t try to make yourself eat right, or study more, or work harder for the next 365 days. Just take today and do what you can today- and when tomorrow comes, do it again.
Happy New Year’s!

The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces. Proverbs 18:21 ISV
Can I just tell you- the things you speak to people have the power to build them up or tear them down…. and you have the most power over people who you care about, or care about you.
I remember when Joey and Jennifer were still in elementary school- they had a program at LES called “Caught You Doing Good” or something like that. When they caught a kid being kind, or polite, or walking quietly in the hall, or whatever, they got a little prize. They could turn that prize in and be in a drawing for a bigger prize. Mine got caught several times and I was always proud to hear about what they did to earn it.
By no means am I claiming to be a perfect parent. God knows the truth about that. But I did learn a long time ago, that how I spoke to my kids going out the door to school affected them all day long, and it affected others too- because if I put my bad mood on them, they just naturally passed it on to someone else.
So I’m telling you- if you’ve got folks in your life who aren’t so great at something (and who isn’t?), look for all the things they ARE good at, and brag on them about it. Build them up in front of other folks – and brag on them TO them. Let them know you think they’re good people.
If you’ll just give it two weeks, it will change your life. Because you see, it won’t change them- it will change YOU.
If you’re always looking for the bad, you’ll find it- but I’d lot rather look for good everywhere and find it.

I know everyone is familiar with the statement “All the time, God is good; and God is good all the time.”
But do we ever really think about what that means?
Psalm 73:1 says “Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”.
People sometimes say, “God was so good to keep my child safe.” or “God was good to heal my friend.”. And He IS good to do those things; but even when He chooses NOT to answer our prayers the way we ask, He is STILL GOOD.
He’s good when He keeps the flood waters out of homes down in Elba; but He’s also good when the flood waters rise.
He’s good when He keeps His hand of protection around people in the storms in Texas; but He’s also good when some of those people lose their lives or their belongings.
He’s good when He heals my friend from cancer; but He’s also good when He takes my dad and my brother home with Him.
God is good because He is. Not because of what He does; not because of how He answers our prayers, saves our family and friends, or because of how He works miracles in our lives.
He is good, just like He is omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful, all-knowing, the Creator, the Alpha and Omega – goodness is one of his character traits.
If He never does another thing for me- He is GOOD. Because He is – it has nothing to do with His actions, or lack of actions.
We’ve got to make our minds up to serve Him because He deserves it, not because of what He does for us.
God is GOOD!

The house we live in is where Randy grew up in.  I love living here but because it’s an older house, it has some issues.

For example, the carpet in our bedroom and the living room is in pretty bad shape. It needs replacing, but right now we’re trying to get through the holidays and then we’ll decide if we want new carpet or just go with new tile throughout the house: living room, den, kitchen, hall and our room. (I’m pulling for new tile.) Then we can have throw rugs where we need them.

And I really don’t hate my carpet- I just don’t like it. It’s hard to keep it clean; and some places are worn.  It makes me feel bad when someone comes over because I’m afraid they’re looking at my carpet and wondering why I’m not doing a better job of housecleaning.

But you know what? My friends love me no matter what my carpet looks like…. they want to come see me because of ME, not my carpet. We can talk and pray together, and have cookies and tea together, because we love one another, not because of how my carpet looks, or how old my dining room table is, or how my sofa lets you sink in when you sit down.

Because they love ME…. not my house.