Here Comes Da Judge

February 2007
Four of us were in Orlando, Florida for yet another National Religious Broadcasters Convention. While having dinner the first evening one of the ladies suggested that we offer to pray for our waiter when he brought us our food. She and her husband did that regularly and it was such a privilege to include the server in the blessing for the food so we decided that was a good idea. And I must admit it did make us feel more spiritual. After all we were at THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS CONVENTION and so what better time to be more RELIGIOUS! Our waiter was a cute young man and so after the food was delivered we asked if we could pray for him. His eyes lit up and at once he came up with a prayer need. He had just graduated from Bible College and wanted to be a youth pastor so he needed a job. We were delighted to fill that request and did so with fervency. As the week went on we had more opportunities take prayer requests and it was always heart warming.

We stayed in a lovely hotel that offered breakfast in their deli. Every morning we would stand in line, give our order to the person behind the counter and wait until she dished it up onto paper plates and then we would find a table and enjoy our breakfast. And every morning we were met by the same woman behind the counter. She was cold, unsmiling, seemed slightly irritated no matter how hard we tried to be quick with our orders and just all in all unpleasant. After the first day we decided we would do everything we could to make her our “friend.” And so every morning we graciously greeted her with a cheery “good morning”. We put our order in with great speed and kindness which she did not acknowledge and we thanked her profusely and even complimented her dress and still she was as cold and hard as ice. She never became our F* much less our BFF**.

We left Orlando to drive back home early Friday morning. About the time the sun was coming up we stopped at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. The restaurant was empty so the hostess led us to the table of our choice and we began to peruse the menu she had set before us.

About that time a tall, older, angular woman appeared as our waitress. She was abrupt, impatient and had only a few teeth. We ordered coffee and as she left to retrieve it for us we had some unkind words to say about the situation.

“Here we go again”!

“Only this one doesn’t have all of her teeth”

When do you think we will get a really NICE waitress for breakfast?”

I wish I could say that was as bad as it got but it wasn’t. More was said then should have been and none of it kind.

She came back with our coffee and took our order, never a soft word spoken. Ten minutes later she came back with a huge tray filled with food. Plates were passed around and just before she left one of the ladies asked, “Is there anything we can pray for you as we say the blessing?”

And at that moment a most incredible thing happened. Our waitress stopped, turned toward us and with tears in her eyes said, “Oh thank you! You can pray for my husband. He is home dying with Pancreatic cancer, and I need to work to pay the bills and can’t always be with him.”

And with that she stood at the head of our table, head bowed, eyes closed ready to pray with us. We all joined hands and prayed so fervently for this precious woman who we had maligned as her husband was home dying of cancer.

After she left, I struggled to eat. I struggled to keep back the massive amount of tears that wanted to come pouring out of my eyes. I wanted to fall at the feet of Jesus and beg His forgiveness.

After we had finished our breakfast (and it was a fairly silent one as we were all so ashamed of ourselves) our waitress came back with the check. Again as tears welled up in her eyes she thanked us profusely and ended by saying she felt God had sent us to her that morning to encourage her heart and that we had indeed done so.

It was more salt in the wound. Such kindness, such gratitude for us …the sinners.

We emptied all of our money onto the table leaving by far the largest tip I am sure she had ever received. Yet it wasn’t what we had done for her that mattered. It was what she had done for us.

But it does make me wonder about the woman behind the counter at the hotel. Did she have a similar story? Could we not have prayed for her even if there would be no “show” to it, even if she would not have ever known? We didn’t really need for her to like us. We just needed for her to love Jesus. I wish we would have prayed for that.

It all made me see clearly why our Lord insists that we do not judge others. Because we stink at it! We make judgments of those around us by only what we see…the exterior…and we have no idea what life they live, what sorrows they face, what burdens they bear.

It was one of the greatest lessons of my life I will never forget and to this day I am immensely grateful for it.

Matthew 7:1-5

Judge not that you be not judged.

For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.

*Friend ** Best Friend Forever

Party!

It came into my mind a few years before. I had been asked to speak at a ladies’ Christmas Luncheon for a local church. It was held at The Metropolitan Club, a special events facility. From the moment I walked in the door I thought it would be a wonderful place to someday celebrate God’s goodness. I had no idea at the time, but that day would come and it would be beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

*****************************************************

All of the DVDs and workbooks were completed. It had been a monumental job to say the least. It had taken fives years and forty people working tirelessly. And yet for all of our hard work we knew that God had opened doors that were shut tight. He had provided almost two million dollars without us even telling anyone that we had a financial need. He had guided us and encouraged us. In fact I think we knew full well that in many ways He had done it all. And now we wanted to celebrate…celebrate the God who so graciously, kindly, faithfully made sixty- six DVDs and eleven workbooks possible.

At the first idea of a celebration The Metropolitan Club came to mind. It was beautiful. It was expensive. Yet as we looked for other facilities I kept coming back to that one knowing in my heart that the celebration was to take place there. And so after presenting the plan to the board and much discussion (the very gracious, wonderful, generous, faith-filled board) permission was given to spend the money and the party date was set: January 25, 2007 from 6:30-9:30.

I happen to believe that God truly does love celebrations and so He went before us. Within a short period of time we received a total of $17,000 from three different donors earmarked for a party!

Robin, who is a whiz on the computer, printed lovely invitations and we invited over two hundred people. Every single one of them had something to do with making the big dream come true. There were our production company, many donors, tech folks, musicians, vocalists, sixty-six brave women who had given their testimonies, our catering women, the back stage crew, our wardrobe consultant, makeup artists, writers, editors, proof readers, literary consultant and the list went on and on.

We had prayed that all would come full of joy and dressed in their party clothes and no one let us down! Each and every person who came through the door that night was absolutely radiant and “party dresses”, long and short abounded. Indeed, everyone came ready to P_A_R_T_Y!

The “living room” area at the Metropolitan club offered a perfect spot for appetizers and punch. It is a gracious, welcoming room and yet large enough to embrace all of us. The excitement was high and good cheer was the air we breathed. At 7:00 the big doors opened into the enormous dining room and it really was magical! The room was lit by candlelight and the champagne silk table clothes topped floor length black ones. Crystal lanterns adorned every table giving a sparkly, glittery appearance to the room…and it was just beautiful.

Jen Carozza, one of our favorite vocalists started us off with her jazzy rendition of “Come on Into the House”. Robin followed her with a heart felt welcome that immediately set the tone for the evening. And as all of our studies begin with the opener of The Amazing Collection, we thought it was appropriate to do the same for our evening and so it was shown up on a huge screen. And then the feasting began!

There was much more that night. There were brief speeches from the board members followed by Charles Billingsley who gave a concert and then led us in celebratory worship. Too soon the evening ended and all said good night. But I have to believe we went away believing that we had all had a glimpse of heaven. We had enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings. We had feasted on the finest food. We had been clothed in our very best. We had loved on one another. We had worshiped with full hearts. And through it all we had basked in something else.

Emmanuel.

The Celebrating God had been with us.

Psalm 5:11

But let all those rejoice who put their trust

in You.

Let them shout for joy…

Let those who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

What’s Next?

Eleanor’s screened porch overlooking the lake made a perfect place for the Big Dream Board to conduct important business. We had gathered together for two days to discuss, plan and evaluate our office, staff, and warehouse needs, finacial status and future projects. Each May we “retreat” to get a pulse on the ministry and see where God might lead us for the next year and we always come away with deeper faith in God Who has done far beyond anything we could have ever thought or asked.

After reviewing the present status, the question came up that I have heard over and over again from many of our loyal customers.

So what is next?

For the customer, that question is simple but for the board it is not because we are not the ones who set the path. It is God’s ministry and God’s will and God who we serve.

So the question really is “What does the Lord want us as a team to do next?

Linda didn’t seem to hesitate.

“We need to move forward with teaching women how to live THROUGH the Bible in their marriages and their homes. We have taught them the books of the Bible and have certainly encouraged them to study and know them all but there is a great need for women to know the ”HOW’ of living a godly Christian life.”

For years we have been intrigued, challenged and burdened with the Titus 2:3-5 command.

“Older women ….. encourage (train) the younger women to love their husbands and love their children, to be sensible, pure workers at home, kind being subject to their own husbands that the word of God may not be dishonored. “

Intrigued because it speaks to the older women in the church .

Challenged because there are so many facets to the command.

Burdened because we stand by and watch homes and marriages fall apart.

There was something about Linda’s confident statement that so resonated with each one of us. We have talked about such a curriculum for years but truthfully have not had clear guidance as to how the Lord would have us do such a thing.

So we left the screened porch and the lake and returned to our daily lives with conviction that we will pray fervently and ask God to help us help women who in turn will strengthen their homes and families and in the end bring further glory to God and His kingdom.

The following week I received a phone call from a woman I had never met. A friend of hers had encouraged her to call me. We met for lunch at a local sandwich shop. She was lovely, bright, and energetic. And she had a burning heart for women and their marriages and their families and their homes!

She had no idea that our board had just been discussing this very thing and now she had come to me with the same desire! And I began to think that perhaps God was up to something!

So what’s next for Big Dream? We do not know for sure but we do know there are signs, hints of what that direction looks like and it could be very good indeed.

Isaiah 30:21

And your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”

It’s So Simple

Frank and BeeBee got married last weekend.

No invitations were sent out but somehow word got around to all those who loved them. Two hundred of their closest friends and family showed up.

They didn’t have a budget for flowers but one of the daughters- in- law knew how much they loved vegetable gardening so had the bride’s bouquet made with an assortment of greenery and radishes and cherry tomatoes and it was beautiful as was the groom’s radish boutonniere.

Margarite volunteered music so she hauled out the old organ that is stored in the pavilion shed and the guests were welcomed with some of the much-loved hymns.

Frank arrived in his old golf cart decorated with fishing gear. He walked to the front where Pastor Joe was waiting for him and we all applauded. We couldn’t help ourselves.

The second golf cart arrived carrying BeeBee, escorted by her two sons. As soon as she stepped out of the cart I have to admit we were all taken back. She looked beautiful in her silk suit she had bought at a local consignment store for $3.50. She is petite and as a bride looked radiant with her white hair resembling a halo around her face.

Margarite began the wedding march and all of us were on our feet…well, Beloved and I were already on our feet because there was standing room only. Two grandchildren, ages about 4 and 6 came down the aisle first tossing Spring Salad Mix from little baskets, an appropriate homage to the wedding couple.

With a son on each side, BeeBee came down the down the aisle confidently to her waiting man.

Joe did a great job of conducting the ceremony and the bride and groom spoke their vows with such conviction….the conviction of two people who really knew what they what getting into and yet were willing to move forward with joy and courage.

Travis has a voice that is beautiful even in his late seventies and stood to sing “How Great Thou Art”, BeeBee and Frank’s favorite song. But emotion got the best of him and he struggled through the first verse. Then as if by some strange silent invitation, everyone joined in. It was beautiful, touching and well, holy. I cried.

The vows completed, the kiss exchanged and the wedded couple joyfully went up the aisle to wild applause.

And then before we knew it they were back in the front. Frank, tall and handsome had something to say. And he began…” I am so grateful to….and the list was a fairly long one, grateful for the friends and family who really, really loved them and had made this day so special. He spoke personally to each and every one of them, naming their contribution to the day. And then he briefly told the audience what they already knew and yet acknowledging it made it beautiful.

He was grateful for his first marriage to his beloved wife of 53 years. BeeBee was also grateful for her first husband of 46 years. And they both felt those deceased loved ones were looking on with joy. And I believe they really were.

Acknowledging God’s goodness in the past, enjoying and being so grateful for God’s goodness in the present, and looking forward to what God had for them in the future… their future together.

It was all so simple. It was all so profoundly simple and yet incredibly beautiful. It was a God-event and I will never forget it.

Simplicity. We really don’t believe it is better but it really is. I have been to many weddings and many very extravagant and expensive ones but none like this one. I walked away humbled, deeply touched and perhaps, even changed.

Maybe God doesn’t give extra credit for busier, faster, and more. Perhaps He has given us the secret but we just don’t believe Him. Maybe the secret really is simplicity. A couple of hints show up in Second Corinthians. The question is “Will I, will we, pay attention”?

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God

and more abundantly toward you.

2 Corinthians 1:12

But I fear lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:5

A Chance Encounter

I wonder how many lives are totally changed by what we would consider is a ‘chance encounter’.

I had a catering business in the late seventies. We sold sandwiches and salads to a large insurance company every day. I sold a gentleman an egg and olive sandwich one day. He asked if I was a Christian. I replied I was an American therefore yes I was. He then very cheerfully asked if I was born-again. I replied no…that was only for “rednecks”. He smiled and said that in John 3 Jesus had told Nicodemas that one must be born again in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. Then he paid for his sandwich and left. That one encounter was the beginning of my journey to Christ. It was a chance encounter but really it was a “Christ” encounter.

***************************************************

In December 2005, Robin and I had driven to Nashville, Tennessee for a business meeting. Because it would run late we decided to stay overnight and Robin’s husband had generously provided a balcony room overlooking the beautiful indoor gardens at the fabulous Opryland Hotel. We had spent the evening enjoying every aspect of the gorgeous resort as it was gloriously decorated for the Christmas Season.

The next morning, we rose early and walked down to the hotel dining room to order breakfast. A young man of Mexican decent waited on us. Though he spoke in halting English, he was cheerful and kind and courteous and very helpful in recommending certain dishes he thought we would enjoy. After he took our order he asked if we had big plans for the day.

I told him we were going to visit several churches and introduce them to a new Bible study we had just produced before heading back to Atlanta. With that his eyes lit up and he asked many questions about the study. Then he turned to me and asked if I had a word of encouragement for him.

Now that is a question I am not asked every day but before I knew it I had blurted out, “Be faithful!” That seemed to be a word he needed and he began telling us his story about how he came to know the Savior! It was short and exciting and we felt that the Spirit of God was simply bursting forth and filling all of us!

Soon he delivered our breakfast and his recommendations had been excellent. We simply feasted on fabulous food until not only our souls but our stomachs were full to the brim. And then a special dish arrived, a bowl of beautiful fruit with a Crème Brule dipping sauce. “A gift, he said, and with that he handed us a book, Spiritual Waiting. Robin had a set of The Amazing Collection with her and so she gave that to him. When we went to pay the bill, there was “no charge”.

In real life, two Georgia suburban women don’t have much in common with a young Mexican waiter living in Tennessee, but in God’s Kingdom we are family, brothers and sisters united by the love of Christ and we have a common Spirit and a common destiny.

I don’t know what ever happened to this “brother” of mine, but I do know he made an indelible impression on my life.

First, he made his job a place in which to bless others, bring glory to Christ and truly let his light shone.

Secondly, he gave generously. Our breakfast was not cheap. Someone had to pay for it. I feel certain he did it.

Thirdly, he was prepared. He had a significant book close by so he could share it with someone else.

And lastly but probably the most important, he had a story that he could tell in a short period of time in a way that would make an impact and not be at all offensive.

I was impressed. That was six years ago and I am still impressed!

A chance encounter…no, it was a Christ encounter and I am so grateful for each and every one of them.

1 Corinthians 2:4

And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom but

in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Sales and Marketing

I have heard that a few seconds of advertising time on prime time TV can sell just about anything if the commercial is shaped right. But there are many ways to sell. Sometimes it is a billboard or an advertisement in a magazine, a display in a department store, or a 30 minute sales presentation. Marketing is big business for sure.

I remember a time when we were invited to enjoy a free weekend at a nearby resort if we would only spend 30 minutes listening to an informative talk by one of their sales representatives. And so, needing a little time away and thinking this was a great opportunity we took the bait. After enjoying all of the amenities of this luxury resort we gladly sat through the 30 minutes required. At the end of the sales presentation we were ready to sign on the dotted line and part with all of our saving. By the grace of God we had the good sense to ask for an hour to think about it. In that time we called a dear and wise friend who gave us ten good reasons this was a BAD idea and rescued us from a terrible mistake. But it proved that we are easily persuaded by good marketing!

*******************************************************

We were in a bind. We had devoted four years to developing and producing a Bible Study we were convinced would help women understand every book in God’s Word. We had begun to receive a great deal of affirmation through women who were doing the study. It was changing not only the way they looked at God’s Word but it was also changing their lives. Now we had to find a way of letting churches and small groups know the study was available. They could not do the study if they did not know about it! The problem was simply how we could we get that kind of information into their hands. And so we decided we needed a marketing person.

I had met Nicole, a lovely young woman, at one of the National Religious Broadcasters Conventions who had impressed me greatly. She was a marketing rep for a huge Christian organization that specialized in massive events for women. We hit it off immediately. And so whenever she would come to Atlanta from Texas she would stop by my house for a cup of tea and good conversation.

Meanwhile, the Board began to pray more intensely for a marketing person. We had no idea who God might send us but we knew we needed someone with experience as we knew nothing about sales. One afternoon Nicole dropped by and brought Rachel, one of her sale associates. We were sitting on the porch sipping ice tea when I said, “Why don’t you two quit your jobs and come work with us!” I had said that to Nicole on numerous occasions and we both knew I was joking (sort of!).

But today the response nearly blew me away. Rachel answered, “I am moving to Atlanta to be closer to family. My sister lives here and I will be looking for a job. I have a degree in sales and marketing and also three years of experience in the same company Nicole is with, and I would be so happy to investigate further what you have in mind!”

A week later we had a contract for Rachel. The added bonus was that she would be living with her sister for a while until she could find a place to stay. Her sister just happened to live a very short distance from the office!

Rachel was with us for about three years. She met a man, got engaged then married and then pregnant before she decided to stay home and be a mom. But she was a gift to us right from the Throne of Grace!

But it is still amazing to me how God brought us what we needed at just the right time and in such a creative way.

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Disappointment

Sometime people can just let you down. In fact it doesn’t have to be a person. Just last week we came home after being out later than usual only to find that our good-dog Jim had taken a pound cake off the kitchen counter, unwrapped it neatly, ate half of it, and, unable to rewrap and put it back on the counter, he just left it on the floor and waited for us by the door. As soon as we came through that door he took off like a shot and hid for a half an hour. Two nights later, I couldn’t sleep so I got up to do some reading only to find good-dog Jim on my new love seat sound a sleep. He disappointed me. It happens.

***************************************

December 2005

Robin Rosebrough, who was overseeing our sales, and I had been working on trying to find the best ways to market The Amazing Collection. We had met with outstanding businessmen whose tremendous advice was so helpful and appreciated. But we really needed someone to take on the marketing and do it for us!

John Eames, our dear friend and literary agent, came into town and so we were able to meet with him at some length. He listened carefully and then said he would like to see if one of his acquaintances who he knew in Nashville would meet with us. John said Mr. X (as I will call him) was a marketing genius. He knew everything about marketing and he knew everyone in the industry. John told us he would see if he could set up a meeting. So a week later we received a call! Mr. X indeed would meet with us in Nashville on November 30!

It was decided that Robin and I would make the trip and so the two of us drove up in the morning arriving at John Eames’ house just before our scheduled appointment. We jumped in John’s car and drove to the restaurant, a quiet and lovely place perfect for the meeting.

I understand business men do this all the time but we were still seeing ourselves mainly as homemakers and wives and moms. All of this was pretty heady stuff and to say we were excited and nervous is an understatement. Had we been getting ready to meet the president I don’t think we would have been more excited and awestruck.

Mr. X proved to be all we hoped he would be and more. He was very sanguine, so warm and friendly right from the first handshake. He was gracious and kind and asked a million questions…all that we enjoyed answering! (It is always a heady experience to recount the history of Big Dream because every time we do our God gets more grand and powerful as we relive the many great and awesome miracles.)

After over an hour of answering, he seemed genuinely impressed. And then he began to talk and when he did he painted incredible pictures of all that he would do for us. He wanted us to meet with the VP of one of the largest Christian publishers in the country and he just happened to know him personally. He continued, telling us how this study was a goldmine and that if the meeting with the VP did not go well then there was a Plan B and a Plan C. He would see that we were well taken care of in the marketing arena and he wanted to do it all for free!

The meeting lasted two and a half hours. At the end, we said good-bye to our new best friend Mr. X, John drove us back to our car and Robin and I headed home. I do think we could have flown home without any help from a car or plane. We were ecstatic and overwhelmed with all of Mr. X’s good promises! We had found such favor in his eyes and he had promised us so many wonderful “gifts”! His talent and marketing passion was JUST what we needed! We felt as if all of heaven had opened up and poured such rich blessings on us. And we couldn’t wait to have the chance to meet with the very important VP and the see if we needed to go to plan B or plan C! What a meeting! What a day! What a promise!

That was the last we ever heard from Mr. X.

Sometimes people disappoint. But God never does.

The Lord is righteous in her midst

He never fails.

Zephaniah 3:5