Immeasurably More

encouraging leaders to serve and servants to lead

Category: Uncategorized (page 1 of 2)

From Ash Wednesday until Now

As I prepare for Maundy Thursday worship, my mind returns to Ash Wednesday. And even though it was only 6 weeks ago, in so many ways it seems a lifetime ago. A lifetime of more innocence, of contemplating what I might give up or add to my life during the coming season of Lent quickly followed by exciting plans to celebrate Easter with my beloved family with all the festivities we Easter people expect and relish.
Little did I know that God knew better than I did what the future held and that the occasional glass of wine I intended to “give up” for Lent would give way to a Corona Virus #stayhome.
Maundy Thursday is one of my favorite of Church Holy Days because I not only #keepthefeast with my own Church family but do so with other Jesus Followers around the World. And as the Sanctuary is darkened and the elements of Worship are removed one by one, I’ve often thought that the sadness I felt in my heart at that time was not only due to the approaching crucifixion of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, but was also a foreshadowing of what it might feel like to lose our freedom to gather and worship together in God’s House.
Even though our churches may appear empty tonight, thankfully, the Church is only deployed and we will be worshiping and keeping the feast safely in our homes just as Jesus and his first followers did and as our Lord has encouraged us to do …remembering the Corona Virus will not win because “Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world.”

A New Thing


Continue reading

Hurricane Michael

My heart is so burdened this morning for all who have suffered devastating lose due to Michael and especially for our dear friends Gayle and Rex Putnal who lost their precious home as did almost all their neighbors.
When we were struck by Matthew, God’s grace gave us courage and strength to face the unthinkable and to even find some rays of humor. But as our church family met to “celebrate” God’s mercy the following Sunday, my heart broke and as everyone began to joyfully sing, I fled outside in tears, for the very first time. And as I turned on my car, this powerful song was playing on The Message radio station. I began to sing with Hillary first timidly and finally to the top of my lungs while still in tears. And I did so for many weeks until the tears were all gone and my sure and confident faith that my God was still sovereign and still on his throne had returned. And the confident assurance that He is Love and since he had allowed this while sifting it through his loving hands, it would all turn out for our good and his glory!
I pray that all who have been effected by Michael, will allow themselves a time to grieve and will also find encouragement in this song.

Just Thinking Out Loud

I’m truly trying to understand all the angst being expressed by some women. But I’m also a logical thinker and think some of their tactics may actually work against them.
I can’t imagine a man taking a day off from work for International Men’s Day. Can you imagine needing your doctor or your plumber and being told, “Sorry, it’s International Men’s Day and I’m not working” or my lawyer husband telling the judge, “Sorry, I won’t appear in court today it’s IM Day”? If he did, he’d be in contempt of court with serious consequences.
Our generation learned through experience that if we truly wanted to be treated as equals and shown professional respect, then we needed to act professionally rather than being “dramatic and high maintenance.”
If this “IW day off” becomes a yearly event, then, logically, many employers might instead think twice about hiring a woman.
I started 3 different companies during the 80’s and 90’s dealing with Bankers while acquiring business loans and New York Brokers while opening accounts with over 20 suppliers. I often dealt with gruff skeptical men who asked why they should deal with me, but I earned their respect and their trust by knowing my business, by being a professional often while bouncing a baby on my hip and by the Grace of God!
I didn’t expect or ask for any special privileges or days off. I worked hard and proved my self just like most other women and men I know of our generation.
Just thinking out loud.

Wishing You a Grace Filled New Year!

There are so many things we can wish for ourselves, family and friends in this New Year of 2017. But after this past year of Tom’s cancer treatment, surgery and continuing recovery, the destruction to our home, yard and neighborhood by Hurricane Matthew, the loss of so many childhood friends and now this week the loss of  my dear friend, M`liss, , my “sister” by another mother, I know from personal experience that the most valuable thing I can wish and pray for you is for you to experience God’s presence and His AMAZING GRACE each and every day of 2017. It is the most valuable of all gifts. The gift that can’t be bought but only humbly received through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.
Wishing you a Grace Filled New Year!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Great Equalizer

Tom and I traveled all day yesterday without any info on the election. How pleasant it was.                                              Then we arrived at The Rotary House of MD Anderson Cancer Center where everyone here faces the real uncertainties of life and where even though we’ve never met, and come from all over the US and even the world, we look at one another, praying for each other in our spirit and we are instantly friends bound by our common illness.  Cancer is a great equalizer.             We could rant about cancer on FB but it would never make us well or whole.
Our country has a Cancer. “For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Every single one of us has a spiritual cancer named sin and all of the political postings still being posted will never bring healing to our country. We each need the Great Physician if we are to survive and return to good or even excellent health. This should be the great equalizer that brings us together on our knees asking God’s forgiveness and pleading for His mercies on each of our own lives, for our present and future presidents, for our representatives, senators and judges.
How different our world would be if we would each heed the Word of God…
“No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NLT

A Prayer for our Nation

Daniel prayed this prayer on behalf of his people during very stressful times. What if every Christian prayed this for the next 7 days leading up to our election and beyond?

Daniel 9:4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

In honor of Laborers

imageAt 5:15 am, Friday, September 2nd, our little island was hit by a tornado, spun off from Hurricane Hermine.  And even though we are so grateful that there were miraculously NO injuries, significant portions of our island  looked like a war zone.  Ancient live oaks were uprooted and tall old pines snapped like toothpicks  were thrown around like spears, and as one friend described them, landing like upside down trees.

Since then, power crews from across the south, city and county workers, neighborhood work crews and professional tree and landscape companies have worked tirelessly over this holiday weekend to restore power and some sense of normalcy to our neighborhood. I’ve heard only praise for their work and for their caring attitudes.

So on this Labor Day, I have a fresh and personal appreciation for the goodness of Americans and especially for those who work at jobs that go unrecognized until there is a crisis.  May you feel our deep gratitude for all the days you labor with unseen and often unrecognized excellence and especially for your sacrificial service of labor this weekend.

“Whatever you do, work heartedly as for the Lord and not for men.”     Colossians 3:23

A STAND UP MAN

Anyone can SIT DOWN but only a STAND UP Man will change the world! LOVE is an action word…

Former RB Warrick Dunn successfully provided his 139th home to a single mom

Do this in Remembrance…

imageAnd so all the preparation, prayer and reflection of this Lenton Season brought us this evening to Maundy Thursday’s very special Tennebrae Service at our beautiful historical island church.

Maundy comes from the word, Mandate. On Maundy Thursday, Jesus the Christ, who came to fulfill ALL The Law, gave us new mandates: Love one another and Do this in remembrance of me!

Yes, many have sadly forgotten Jesus the Christ, whose sacrifice has already purchased their freedom. But equally sad is that many who call themselves by His beautiful name have also forgotten who they are in Christ.

Tonight, as I partook of the bread and the wine, I remembered…who I was apart from Christ and so thankfully, who I am today In Christ!

May each of you, also, spend time remembering….so we can truly celebrate as Easter People, Children of God, this Sunday.

Older posts

© 2024 Immeasurably More

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑