My little boy....

Little Boy Into Young Man

It doesn't seem possible, that my baby boy will be 17 .......

On March 27, 1993--Zachary Scott came into our lives.

Now as I look at pictures, at video clips, at birth announcements,

and I remember moments about my baby boy.

How can it be that it was 17 years ago he arrived into our lives

and gave me the name "mommy"?


The little boy who grabbed his mommy's heart with his blonde hair,

his under bite, carrying his barney with a laid back personality.

Everywhere he went he always had his sippie cup in one hand,

and the other hand was twirling my hair.

The little boy who loved french fries, and he would not leave

the house without his super hero guys.

Even to this day, he is so content with his life.

The years our almost like a dream, unreal, and sometimes a blur.



A few days ago I glanced up, and there standing before me where

my little boy used to stand, was the form of a young man.



I caught a gasp in my throat as in that moment I realized

my little boy was not there.

How did it happen so fast?

When did it happen?

I have not been away for any length of time,

yet somehow, right before my eyes.....he has changed.

He is growing and maturing and the shock of it all leaves me dazed.

Words like "my own car", "when I have a job", "when I get out of school"

have begun to seek places in our conversations.

Questions of life itself have begun to surface to the topics of discussion.

I must say I am not at all sad, disappointed or upset at the man he is becoming.

The young man who makes me smile with the quirky things he says.....

The young man who makes us laugh.....

The young man who can give you a “bear hug” that you will never forget......

He is growing into a fine godly young man that has my heart beaming

with all the joy and pride one can generate.

I will begin to learn how to say goodbye to my little boy,

or maybe I just need to learn how to say "hello"

to the young man I am beginning to see.

The realization is that, my little boy is leaving

and taking his place as a young man.

Today, I will cherish the title "mom" like no other title.

God saw it part of His perfect plan to bless our life with this dear boy.

Happy Birthday Zach-man!!!!!

Make time to dream....

Last weekend, I had the honor to be with great young ladies at Dove 2010. As I looked around the room, I seen so many dreams and goals. Some of those young ladies will achieve those dreams. But the reality of those dreams, it will not be easy road.

Some will let others paralyze their dreams, and some will forget what those dreams were.

Thomas Edison said, "The thoughts that come unsought and drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable."

Then I thought of the scripture, "I will give my spirit to everyone (not just a selected few!)....your young men will see visions and your old men will have dreams." I hope every one of those young ladies get that scripture. Regardless of your age, God's Spirit can birth in your heart a dream, a vision of "what can be."

Hopefully, some of those young ladies will stop putting themselves down, thinking "others are more worthy and more qualified."

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Php. 2:13

You may be flawed and limited, but the God who lives and works in you is not! Don't allow fear to make you settle for less than the life God intends you to live. Go ahead, risk, reach, for "It is God who works in you," and longs to be glorified through you.

Historian Henry J. Taylor, reminds us that "Vision lit every lamp, built every church and business, performed every act of kindness, and created more and better things for more people. It's the priceless ingredient of a better day."

So start dreaming and don't stop!!!!!

Stop making excuses!!!

Everybody is going to give their life for something.

The big question is what?

Sports, a hobby, fame, wealth?

None of these bring lasting satisfaction---not one!

Service is the pathway to joy and fulfillment!

It's through ministry that we find meaning!

As we serve God purposes, our lives take on eternal importance.

Paul writes:

"All this makes you more significant, not less....

because of what you are a part of"

1 Cor. 12:14 & 19

If you aren't involved in something greater than yourself you're just existing, because life is meant for ministry.

God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.

He wants you to make a difference in His world; He wants to work through you. Ultimately what matters is not how long you live, but how effectively!

If you're not involved in any form of service today,

what's your excuse?

Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was attractive,

Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor,

Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral,

David had personal & family problems,

Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant,

Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least,

Peter was impulsive, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was crooked,

Thomas had doubts,Paul had poor health,

and Timothy was timid.

That's quite a variety of misfits, yet God used each of them.

He will use you too, if you stop making excuses!

"Each of us finds our meaning and

function as a part of His body."

Romans 12:5

Worship that pleases God.....

In John, Chapter 4, a Samaritan woman with a checkered past, tried to debate Jesus as to the best time, place, and style for worship. But Jesus told her these issues were irrelevant.

Where you worship God isn't as important as why, or how much of yourself you offer to Him in the process. "They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)

Worship is your spirit responding to God's Spirit. It's not a matter of saying the right words, you must mean what you say. Heartless praise isn't praise at all. You may worship imperfectly, but you must never worship insincerely.

The best style of worship for you is the one that authentically represents your love for God based on your background and personality. If God intentionally made us all different why would we all be expected to express our love for Him in the same way?

There's no one-size-fits-all. You don't glorify God by trying to be something He doesn't need one more of. God wants you to be yourself!

"That's the kind of people the father is out looking for those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship." John 4:23

If your worship is mindless, it's meaningless, Jesus called thoughtless worship.

"Vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7)

Even biblical terms can become tired cliches' from overuse. If someone approached you and repeated, "I praise you" 50 times, you'd probably think, for what?

You'd rather receive 2 specific compliments than 20 vague generalities. So would God!!!

One of the most beautiful passages in Scripture is found in Isaiah, Chapter 43:
“You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned……For I am the Lord, your God….you are precious and honored in my sight, and ….I love precious and honored in my sight…..I love you.”

Wow! You are loved by God. Who else do you need to impress? What other ladder do you need to climb? What are you going to add to you resume that’ll top that? Make your life an experiment of living in the love of God.

Every morning when you wake up let your first words be “I’m loved by God.”

When you’re overwhelmed by all you have to do, when you’re tempted to sin, or dishonor God, to lash out in anger and hurt someone, or deceive someone. When you’re afraid, when you’re anxious, when you’re alone, remember and feast on the words that give life.

”I’m loved by God.