Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ShePAC

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Last night listened to one of my favorite role models – Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Talk about incredible! She is a physically little woman with giant intellect. Her speech was graceful and delivery was flawless. With her words she stirred the room of flashing cameraS and star-struck ladies to get out, vote and support Mitt Romney in 2012. Excellent VP material? I think so!

One thing she said resonated throughout my body [will be paraphrasing]. She looked at everyone with tears in her eyes and noted – this is a little girl who grew up in segregated Alabama; yet, her father told her that she could be the President of the United States someday. We live in a beautiful country – where someone who was not allowed to get food from a hamburger stand could grow up to be Secretary of State. Chills.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Father's Day 2012


My Father - I could write volumes of books to explain why my father means the world to me. A masculine and towering character, his presence is felt by all. Upon initial glance, he looks stern and serious. Face concentrated and lined in wisdom, his green eyes are piercing and intimidating. His voice is assured and confident. However, this is not the man I know. This is the man the world knows. I am blessed and humbled to know my father’s heart. 

When thinking about my father, my soul leaps within me. My body bubbles over with love. If I were to describe my dad in one word – it would be “sacrifice.” Of course, parents are always supposed to lay aside a lot of their wants and desires for their kids – that is what makes for a good parent. But, I think my dad is an exception. He has always been me and my sister’s biggest advocate and fan. 

Blessed with two little girls, my dad stepped up to the plate serving as our protector, coach and encourager. He gave up his pastimes to sit up in high school bleachers and chant with his two cheerleaders, “Go Big Green and Gold.” He spent his Saturdays hitting grounders to his freckle-faced middle school daughter and spent countless nights wiping the tears from her emotional face. 

My father is a rock. It’s hard for me to think of him as a little boy or new husband –I guess he once was –but, I’ve always known him as a steady source of wisdom and strength. I know him as a solid leader who knelt by our bedside and powerfully prayed promises over us. I know him as a man who would sing with us, “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God” from his gut after prayers. I know my father as a voice who stated at every turn, “You are blessed and favored by the Lord.” 

You see – my father is an exception. A simple, “thank you for being my dad” cannot suffice on this Father’s Day or any for that matter. He had a choice – to be a lackluster dad or to show his little girls a father’s undying love. I’m glad he chose the latter.

Daddy, you’ve not only encouraged me and spurred me on to “suck out all the marrow of life,” you’ve gently guided me. You have led by example. You are our family’s patriot. You ride at dawn with a torch of fire in hand – which is God’s word. Your battle cry is not one of self-serving accolades. You call out in truth. I respect you deeply. You are the husband and father God has called you to be and that means the world to me.  

 I love you Daddy.


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Crave Blessings



Today it’s raining in DC. I typically loathe the rain. A girl with naturally curly hair, humidity and moisture either make my hair very frizzy or resemble a red version of Shirley Temple. Although, I don’t like the physical aspects of the rain, the symbolism of rain is quite beautiful to me – it washes all the old away. 

So many times in life, I’ve wanted to just get one of those squeegees at the gas stations and wipe away the dust that clouts my vision and my mind. You see, it’s so easy to get bombarded by the everyday mundane things and miss out on the blessings. 

How sad is it that people miss out on beautiful blessings because they are fixated on the ordinary? I think of the fossil digs in grade school we all went on. On the outside, the dig would look like a typical sandbox. But, as soon as you put your shovel to work – you’d uncover sometimes unique relics.

I can tell you – that I want to take time and seek out the fossils. However, nothing special is acquired without hard work.  This has to be intentional. It’s deliberate to gather the equipment to uncover fossils and search for these unearthed treasures. 

In order to find blessings from God, we must make our journey to his throne room intentional. It’s vital to just read an entry in a devotional, listen to a Christian podcast or simply open your Bible and read a verse. Blessings cannot flow to a heart only seeking the mundane. Hunt for the extraordinary! Go on a heavenly fossil dig!

God is extraordinary – so why would he give you anything other than what is exceptional? You are his child – the apple of his eye. He longs for you to yearn for him in your everyday life. Crave the blessings of the spirit!. The Lord has promised – you will never hunger or thirst.

Monday, June 4, 2012

New Day

  • Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. - Henry David Thoreau
 
  • This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24