Exciting Times

I just got off of a ride that was a week’s worth of weirdness, and I’m back to feeling good again.  Anyone else have weeks where all your thoughts combine for one big contemplation fest?  That was me, Saturday through Friday.

And with this Saturday, I am thankful to be looking ahead at exciting times.  For starters, my mom found out this past Monday that her lymph nodes are back to normal and she is in remission!  There are two more chemo treatments left, so we are praying for the absolute best coming out of those.  Praise God for healing her!

Last night, I was given a list of songs for a wedding I get to play DJ for next weekend.  I’m loving the song selection and the people who are getting married!  I’ve spent the morning looking over the list, and it’s really gotten me pumped about the reception.  I hope you get to go.  If not, you’re going to miss out on some major crunkulation.  Congrats, Jeramy and Thea!

It’s been awhile since I’ve really enjoyed a Saturday.  My work schedule has me ending my week on Friday mornings.  I come home and sleep until Friday evening, and usually lounge around the house until I go to sleep for a second (yes, second) time Friday night.  So, when I wake up Saturday morning–generally on the early side–I’m usually bored pretty quickly.  Doing nothing is a true art form.

I’m looking forward to the days, weeks and months ahead.  The growth and rejuvenation found in Spring and Summer months is much-needed.  And starting next weekend, it’s time to party!  So thankful to be a part of two weddings of people who mean the world to me.

Not to mention, next weekend, I get to ride around with this guy:

My Mother. My Hero.

Well, Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who have the wonderful privilege of bringing life into this world and laying the foundation for a future full of promise.  The job you’ve been assigned is difficult at times, but thank you for doing it!

For the past 25-and-a-half years (+ 9 months), I’ve had the blessing of being under the care of a wonderful woman named Connie.  I love my mother, and have no sorrow about the hand I was dealt in her being it.  We’ve seen a lot of happy times, and we have gone through several trials together and individually.

I’ve often called Mom my hero.  For practically all my life, she got up as early as 3:45 am to go to a job where she stood on a hard floor most of the day doing manual labor for not much money.  Throughout these years, she rarely (if ever) saw a raise or reward for her efforts, but she did it anyway to provide for her family.  Ten years ago, she went through a divorce, which, no matter the statistics, no one dreams of doing.  Add to the list an early retirement and several surgeries over the years.  I’ve watched her go through a lot, and she’s come out of all of it.  She’s the strongest person I know.

This year has been especially challenging.  It began with Mom getting a lump on her neck examined that her physician attempted to drain once before.  I received a phone call one morning from my aunt who let me know that what I was hoping would be nothing was the worst possibility.  Mom was diagnosed with stage IV mon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  I don’t know a lot of medical terminology, but I quickly learned this was the most aggressive kind of lymphoma in one of the worst stages.

Her doctors have remained optimistic from the day of diagnosis.  As she has undergone chemotherapy treatments, further examinations continue to show improvement.  In fact, a recent progress report from her oncologist was that he lymphoma is dissolving and he can no longer feel the lumps!  A network of prayer in several states has lifted her up throughout all of this as well.

My mother is my hero.  She continues to personify faith as she clings to Jesus.  I see it when she comes home from a day of chemo and walks around like nothing just happened.  I know it by her claims of feeling the prayer of others, where she credits her bravery throughout this.  She knows where strength comes from, and it’s from the One who can do anything.

I am full of praise for getting to spend this Mother’s Day with my mom.  What an incredible opportunity for me to show her my gratitude for all she has done for me and celebrate all the victory Jesus has brought to her life!

Thank you, Mom, for being my hero.  I love you.

People [Could Be] Paying for All This Nothing!

As pastor/small group leader Gene Jennings has been promoting that his book is available for a discounted rate on Kindle, it reminded me that I went out on a whim one day and put this blog on there.  The Amazon folks let you subscribe to my hunk of space for 99 cents per month.  Remembering this, I realized that, had I had any subscribers by this point, they’ve been paying for me not to write new posts… per month!

On another note, check out Laughing with Sarah on your Kindle for the low, low price of $1.99 right here!

When It Feels Like Christmas

I remember when I was younger, I busted through the seams with excitement each year the first time I knew my mom and aunt went off Christmas shopping and I couldn’t go.  I knew what that meant–presents for ME!  That put the thrill of Christmas in my mind as early as November.

This afternoon, my mom and aunt (all these years later), just returned from a shopping trip.  That is no longer the standard I base my feelings of Christmas on.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found the joy in giving and seeing others being blessed.

My church just finished a successful Angel Tree campaign.  They are also taking part in giving safe drinking water to people who desperately need it.  Things like these and the spirit of blessing others make it feel like Christmas.

There is also an annual event that my workplace hosts that really  brings the Christmastime feeling to my doorstep.  It is the MCG Cares for Kids Radiothon.  For 10 years, this event has been broadcast on WBBQ, and countless lives have been impacted due to generous hearts of others.

Rather than I recap it–based on my experiences from behind a board in the studio–take a look at the thoughts of someone who was on the floor, broadcasting live from the MCG Children’s Medical Center for the first time, Courtney Starr.

I still like presents, but these days, I look forward to giving as well as receiving.  And seeing people’s gifts at work to change lives is such an incredible thing.  It’s when this happens that Christmas arrives.

Heroic

After watching CNN Heroes for the first time this Thanksgiving, I began to realize yet another thing to be thankful for: the men and women who are taking action in changing the world.  Whether they have faith I do or not, it was God who created the hearts of these people, His creation is at work in their lives, and they are living to save the lives of others.

Photo Source: CNN.com

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from these people.  One of the main ones is what are capable of.  God has created each of us for a purpose, and we can all have a positive influence in the lives around us.  It takes a dedication to servanthood, but these heroes should remind us that we were built for it.

Thank you to all of this year’s nominees for their work, their lives, and their example.  These people are truly heroic.

Capabilities

I we think all of realize the bad things we’re incapable of.

However…

We have a hard time grasping the good we can do.

It’s easy to think we can’t amount to anything.  We can quickly come to the realization that everything in our lives is held together by a thread if that is the case.  We can believe that no matter how strong we are, we can throw everything away in a moment of weakness.  The sad thing is we’re closer to these realities than we often times are the truth that we can do great things.

Why?

Our human flesh is more drawn to the things that come natural to this world.  These things are not good.  If the answers of the world would save us, God would’ve put all of us here and then sat in a corner somewhere because we’ve got this.  Because of our need for God, we should realize the hope that comes with him.

God is greater than anything we’re facing.  Without focusing on him, if all we can see is the bad we’re capable of, there has to be only one way left to go.  With God, we can do and be anything he wants us to.  Are we faithful enough in God to unlock our full potential?  Does living a life to glorify him lead to power that shakes the foundations of the earth and transforms souls in the process?

Think about it.  What are you really capable of?  With God, the answer is anything.

Discomfort

I love worshiping me some air-conditioned Jesus–don’t get me wrong.  Still, there’s something to be said about a bunch of people going after him despite the weather conditions.  I live in South Carolina, and a cool building is a big deal.  When something like the AC goes out, and it’s actually hotter indoors than it is when you step outside, well, that just doesn’t make much sense.  That also didn’t stop three services of TrueNorth Church from happening.

I sat in one of those services this past Sunday.  I saw people worship passionately.  I saw a band, a pastor, and a staff with their game faces on.  Discomfort didn’t slow things down.  It only added to the intensity of one of the greatest privileges we have.  Praise God for that!

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