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High Standards
Standards. Everyone has them, but they’re not all the same for each person. Even people who were raised in the same home can have different standards. I have standards for the bread that I use to make sandwiches. I’m not overly fond of the butts of the loaf of bread. When talking to Bible Study Mama and Brother the other day, I discovered that they LOVE the butts of a loaf of bread. We lived together for years, and I never noticed this. I have standards for my coffee. I’m not really a die-hard coffee drinker, so I take my coffee with lots of cream and sugar. The lighter the…
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Leaving to Live
OOOOOOOOooooooo weeeee! Church was on fire yesterday. The sermon challenged me to live my life to the fullest. My pastor came from Ezekiel 16:1-6. Ezekiel is a prophet. He’s the weird guy that doesn’t quite fit in. He always has a Word for people, but he uses analogies that can be a bit elaborate. God has put him in position to warn Jerusalem about their missteps. Ezekiel doesn’t just declare that Jerusalem is in danger. He paints a vivid picture of their current state of peril. Jerusalem believes that they’re in a prime position. After all, they’re God’s chosen people. They are the seed of Abraham. Highly favored and regarded. …
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Take Your Pencils Out
Alright, ladies and gentlemen it’s test time. Take out your pencils. Write your name in the upper right-hand corner of your paper and write today’s date underneath your name. Has everyone completed that task? Let’s begin. Anyone remember those days? We followed our teacher’s instructions and filled out all the easy information. We know our names and the date (most of the time…LOL). But the test…Some of us dreaded the test. We had studied feverishly and just wanted to make sure that we got the right answers. Others forgot all about the test and broke out in a nervous sweat. Some were confident because the material was easy for them. …
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I Hope You Dance
Houston is full of fond memories for me. I met amazing people and got to have the coolest experiences. And, of course, the food is AMAZING! If you’re looking to have a straight up food vacation, go to Houston. You won’t be disappointed. One of my favorite memories in Houston involves my friend inviting me to a salsa class. My friend was vibrant and full of life. She knew I was a square and was determined to show me a good time in the city that had her heart. So, off to salsa we went. I had several reservations. I’m the queen of the introverts. Not only was this an…
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Dream a Little Dream
Do you remember your dreams when you wake up in the morning? I do. When I was in my twenties, I kept a little notebook beside the bed. I would write my dreams down in the morning. Someone had gifted me a book about the meaning of dreams, so I wanted to keep track of what was happening in my dream world. Like most new adventures I delve into, it didn’t last long. I quickly tired of keeping a record. I’m sad that I didn’t continue. Will I start back? Maybe. But right now, I’m focused on the dreams that I have when I’m awake. Do you currently have big…
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Why Didn’t You Tell Me?
I love pictures. My family knows that, so they’re used to me constantly getting candid shots at events. I spend so much time behind the camera that seeing myself in photos can be jarring. My undergraduate graduation picture is just one such example. Despite my initial reluctance about going to college, I managed to graduate. What a joyous occasion! So, I anxiously awaited my official graduation picture. I wanted to see a visual representation of my achievement. Boy was I disappointed when I saw the picture. I could not get over how fat I was! I turned to Bible Study Mama and exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me?!?!” As a…
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Iron Sharpens Iron
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 You may not know this, but I wanted a sibling. I had a strong desire to have a little person to walk through life with. I shared my dreams with my mom, and as fate would have it, my brother was born. He was going to be my sidekick. My friend. A confidante. Today, I can say that he is all those things, but it hasn’t always been that way. I tried to be his mother. I tried to mold him and shape him in MY image. So, you can understand why we had such…
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Give Me My Flowers
Yesterday was an eventful day. Mondays are typically sermon recaps. And I’ll definitely recap the sermon. But in the midst of all of my planning, life happened. It would be foolish to ignore the fact that Kobe Bryant, his thirteen-year-old daughter, and seven other people lost their lives in a helicopter crash. So unexpected. Unbelievable. Heartbreaking. While my day was going along yesterday, his wife got a phone call that I know had the power to take her breath, knock her off her feet, and leave her speechless. Has anyone else had a perfectly planned day and then life happened? I’m not one of those people that can say I…
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True Wisdom
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 New King James Version Names have so much power. People are often either ignorant of that fact or don’t put much weight into the concept. Even though I know names hold power, I went into this Bible Study Girl thing foolishly. Though I have a heart for Jesus, I didn’t realize just how much my study time with God’s word would be altered. My study time has increased tenfold. I went from minimal study to concentrated study. At least, concentrated for…
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Faith Without Works
Faith without works is DEAD. That’s not just a catchy opening line. It has proven time and time again to be true in my life. Buying my home tested my faith to the core. Being a homeowner was just one of my billion dreams. I kept putting it off because I wanted to make sure that my credit was superb. I’m a shopper’s shopper, so I indulged in browsing homes online and in the free real estate magazines around town. I felt I wasn’t ready financially, but I wanted to at least know what was available. I saw the cutest little town home one day while I was online shopping. …
