Weekly, my 7 year old, DJ, has to memorize a bible verse. As a pastor, it pains me to say this, but he hates it. Tonight, for whatever reason, he was a real bear about it. But one thing that's cool is as DJ learns it, so does the rest of the family. Tonight, I had to laugh, when DJ started out of frustration & Andy spoke up & finished the verse for him. Here it is, in case you wanna learn it too:  "Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

 Why in the world did Sea World risk using this whale for entertainment when it had already killed 2 people awhile back?   


http://www.leadHership.net

11 years ago, the Cuban & I said "yes" to become one & today we celebrate 11 years of that. Now we don't make a big, honkin' deal out of our anniversary. Don't make special plans; don't give lavish gifts. To outsiders, it may seem irreverent or unromantic. Not to us. The reason today is like any other--is to us--EVERY day is an anniversary. When you get as close to divorce as Raul & I did 9 years ago & nearly kill yourselves putting the marriage back together--still waking up to the same person is a daily dose of appreciation & celebration. Cuban, thanks for sticking with me. I know you could have found easier love, but that's just like you to go for the challenge! Everyday I'm grateful you did. I love you so much. My heart is bigger because you are a part of it. Love, Heath   

http://leadhership.net/2010/02/why-cuban-has-stayed-with-me-for-11-yrs.html

My mentor had a good idea. She suggested I identify heroes in my lil world & blog about them. I'm an Earth-Girl. Not in the global-warming-groupie way--but in God's way. God's impeccable creativity on this canvas we call, Earth, takes my breath away. So I have huge respect for folk who tend to God's Earth: landscapers, mowerers, farmers, gardeners, garbage collectors, etc. These folk are heroic. They don't save lives, per se, but they do preserve the life of God's living Earth. So props & standing ovations to them! 

http://leadhership.net/2010/03/hero-dedications.html

Man, in my lifetime, has God heard some crazy prayers. I wonder if He sometimes laughs (in a good way) at my perpetual, preposterous prayers. Here's a sample:

1. God, please send one of your angels to Earth to guard so-n-so.
2. God, please take me home (sometimes, Heaven just sounds too good & I'll shoot straight with God about that).
3. God, please send a mate who is a Christian, hasn't lived a wild life, is OK with my craziness & wants to settle down & marry.
4. God, please help every single child on the entire planet who is being threatened right at this moment & please tend to every single one of them & let them know you see their tears.

Don't be afraid to give God your crazy prayers. He's ok with it. Really. "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Today, the blog, bigisthenewsmall.com, inspired me to write about this. The author of that blog is a cool, black pastor-friend of mine from Oklahoma.  After reading his post, I was overcome with exhilaration for him and all blacks. You see, my parents raised me in a unique way. We were a pasty-white fam in pasty-whiteville, but my parents ran around in circles of color. My dad's BF was black, my mom's BF was black, so some of my buds were black. My parents also encouraged me to date black guys if I wanted. I'm grateful I was raised this way; I'll never change. Now I don't agree w/ some things Obama stands for, but it's time to accept his presidency. I'm also celebrating his victory as a black guy. It wasn't that long ago that blacks were fighting (and dying) to even vote. I'm so happy for those who did and are still alive. Today, they get to see the fruit of their sacrifices.

[Treasure #1]

For awhile, I jockeyed with whether or not to blog about this. I'm glad I waited. Any sooner & you would've only picked up on my bitterness. Waiting allowed me to pray, forgive, ask for forgiveness & find closure. Now, I hope you only get encouraged...
Treasure #1
Two years ago, when we said, "Yes!" to church-employment, we said "Bye, bye" to our boat. We sold our 45-ft Bertram to a family-friend--with the intentions of using that money to help us as we moved into ministry. We got stiffed. Never got one penny. I'm not gonna lie, it still hurts. But I've let go of the bitterness I feel toward that person, who in essence, stole our boat. He's not a Christ-follower. I am. He has a boat. I have Jesus.
Treasure #2
19 years ago, my brothers and I were made heirs to one-million dollars each--to be handed to us upon retirement. Last year, I found out that the donator aborted the arrangement. Now, we will inherit zero. As I've worked through this, I've learned that without his inheritance, I still have one. I'm the daughter of the King. That makes me an heir to something everlasting that can never be taken away. Jesus died for my eternal inheritance, I am eternally grateful for that.

34 has been the age where I felt like I finally lost control of my aging. Here's some of my beauty tell-all's:
1. Girdles. Period.
2. Dress younger. Look at younger magazines, younger stores & younger people. And then when you bust out with it, DO NOT apologize or ask permission. Strut your butt with confidence.
3. Self tanner
4. Wear tall shoes. More height = less width
5. Maintain your mane! Indifference to your hair makes you look older & makes others take you less seriously.
6. Take hair, nails, and skin vitamins. I highly recommend Biosil.

One final word: over the last year, I've learned that it's easier to LOOK younger than to ACCEPT that you are getting older. Pray about that. Ask God to show his love like crazy; and ask Him to release in you the ability to love yourself.

Suicide. It's a very difficult subject to discuss. I know someone who recently attempted it.
I've been trying to be there for this person. It's hard.
But the thing I keep going back to is, "By His grace, you're still here."
As bad as that night was where you wanted to leave your life, God still needed you here to live it.
And the scars on your wrists? You're in good company. Jesus had a scar on his side.
And those scars aren't reminders of your mistake; they are proof of His love.
And someday, God's gonna use you to share that proof with other souls who suffer.

[If you want to love God more]

I don't regularly blog about books cause I have a slight reading disabliity. It takes me a long time to read & retain words on a page. But if its good, I WILL finish it...even if it takes months. Here are 4 books I've completed in the last 3 months, and therefore, recommend to you:

If you want to love God more: Crazy Love by Francis Chan
If you struggle with dying: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
If you have a son: The Wonderful World of Boys by James Dobson
If you are not a perfect leader: Deadly Viper Character Assasins by Mike Foster & Jud Whilhite

I tried to tell my 3-yr old that he won't like Grape Nuts. But he pointed to the box & said, "But Mommy, it has strawberries & blueberries in it & I like those!" Poor child. He thinks what's ON the box is what's IN it. Grape Nuts isn't wrong. They did picture their product on the front, they just added to it. But people aren't cereal boxes & their maker isn't Post. People are made in the image of God; and what's on the outside of them should be what's on the inside...so even 3-yr olds will look & know what they're getting.

One of my favorite words is, 'Grateful.' Some of you know that is often my closing word in emails & texts. I believe in gratefulness, pray for gratefulness & communicate gratefulness, it's helped my soul immensely. Last night at our staff meeting, Pastor Troy asked us to get an image in our minds of what we're grateful for. Then we worshipped, in song, to express it. I thought I'd bring the image I had into the open...

[standing on the other side is GOD & He already thinks you're the best.]

While in Soho, we passed this store window. See how the busty mannequin is standing upright while the other one is kinda slouched? Indulge me here. What do we look like when we're next to someone we think is seemingly better than us? Do we get all slouchy & insecure? God says HE has called you by name & YOU are HIS & He's loved you forever! If you're ever next to someone you think is better than you, just remember: standing on the other side is GOD & He already thinks you're the best.

I love, love, love, love, love concerts. OMGosh, do I love concerts! Always have. Started going to them with my p.'s when I was five. Sadly, some concerts I don't remember (thanks, Mr. Miller and Senor Corona). But all the ones I do, I had a crazy good time at! Our church did a concert in June, and gee...can you i.d. me in the crowd up there?? In August I'm going to John Mayer and in November I'm going to Coldplay. I can not WAIT! The only concert I am really jonesin' to see is Hillsong-United. I'd fly around the Earth twice in the last seat of coach to see them!

I hate sitting in theaters, so I only catch like 2 new flix a year. I'm 3 years late on this one, but just watched Monster in Law on TNT. OMGosh, it was so funny! Though I laughed my way through it, it's actually my personal irony that gave me the best laugh. You see, in our arrangement, it's not that I inherited a monster-in-law; it's that Raul's mom inherited a monster-daughter-in-law! I'm sure I can't enumerate how many times Elsa has had to bite her tongue around me. But what makes her cool is that she raised a great son AND loved him enough to selflessly give him to me.