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The Father Made the Difference
Yesterday’s sermon covered an often-told Bible story. We revisited the story of the prodigal son. Many of us are familiar with analyzing the son’s actions. We talk about how he wanted it all now. We speak of his impatience and foolishness and then rejoice over his return to himself. The sermon, however, focused on the father’s love and the fact that the father’s love made all the difference. Let’s dive into it. Luke 15:11-32 recounts the tale of the prodigal son. Jesus often spoke in parables to make His points more relatable to the audience. It was an opportunity to help others see themselves and recognize their fallacies. In this…
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Happy Father’s Day!
Happy Father’s Day! Let me make a confession. I spend lots of time thinking about a Mother’s Day gift. I poke and prod to see what my mom wants way ahead of time. But Father’s Day…well, that’s a different story. It is no secret that I don’t have a close relationship with my biological father or stepfather (is ex-stepfather a term)? And while I have many men in my life that have stepped in to fill in the gap, I’m not as intentional about giving them the honor that they deserve. Clearly, that’s a character flaw of mine. I need to do better. I need to be better. My biological…
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Rhonda’s Faith Journey
Sitting and talking with Rhonda about her faith journey was just what I needed. Her experiences are relevant and relatable. Check it out for yourself. #wepreach
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Protests and Policies
Goooooood morning ya’ll! I’m not going to hold you long. Wednesday nights have become a very integral part of my week. Even when I’m bogged down with activity, I look forward to the REfresh Bible study. It helps me adjust my focus and often provides comic relief as well. Last night was no exception. The panel discussion format continued to reign supreme and steered our focus towards educating ourselves about the legal system and our rights. Protesting is a good way to show your frustration with inequality. After protesting, we need practical steps to activate change. After protesting, we have to get in tune with the policies that are perpetuating…
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Count Up the Cost
Competition brings out the beast in me. I’m a winner. I like to win. I want to win. So, it should come as no surprise to you that I can turn any simple thing into a competition. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t walk around like a big bully challenging people to duels. I have a healthy appreciation for games and fun. Being the big sister to Bible Study Brother helped shape his fiercely competitive nature. I keep him on his toes. We were in a store one day getting groceries. Occasionally, we like to have fat kid collaboration meals. We decide on a meal that we want to…
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Patience
Just last week, I was asked what I thought were my strong traits. Patience is the first thing that popped into my head. I expounded on my ability to wait out situations. I really hyped myself up the more that I discussed it. Yup…that’s me…patient Patty. And then……life happened. I had to confront some uncomfortable truths. Not too long ago, there was a viral video challenge going around. Parents would secretly record their children. They would place a bowl of candy or treats in front of them. The parent would promise the child that they could have the candy, but they just had to wait for a moment. The parent…
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Why Lazarus?
My Sunday morning routine is drastically different than what it used to be. Pre-COVID, I would get up, shower, get dressed, and try to be out of the door by 8:30 a.m. I wanted to get to Christian Life Development on time. I didn’t want to miss any part of the service. These days, I get up, shower, get dressed, and head to my dining room table. I participate in Christian Life Development on Zoom. And then I head to my pew, I mean my couch, to hear the sermon. And what a sermon it was. Last week, Pastor discussed the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. This week, we…
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The Perfect Family
Navigating family dynamics has been a struggle at various times in my life. The older I get, the more life that I live, the more I realize that everybody’s family has issues and struggles. When I was younger, I would get so frustrated. Why couldn’t my family just act right? Why couldn’t we get it together and be “normal” like everyone else’s family? I had a fairytale idea of normal. I guess I was seeking perfection out of others. Even though I knew that I could not live up to the idea of a perfect daughter. I was so fed up with my family when I was younger that I…
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Vision Board
Life changes so quickly. This episode was recorded before George Floyd’s death. It’s refreshing to hear the hope that I had. I need my vision for a brighter tomorrow to come to pass. #wepreach
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The Falls
Once upon a time, people would go on vacation. They would get on planes. They would pile in their cars and go on road trips. They would take cruises. With the state of affairs in the world now, many people have decided to hold off on vacations. I was sitting and thinking about some of the many trips that I’ve taken, and one vacation floated to the top of the list. Initially, it made me laugh. As I thought of it more, I realized that a great lesson emerged from the experience. Ya’ll ready for our trip? Let’s go to Jamaica! When Bible Study Mama turned fifty, we turned her…
