The Quiet Sermon (Author Unknown)
“A member of a certain church, who previously had been

Attending services
Regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the
Pastor decided to visit
Him.

>It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at
>home alone, sitting
Before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his
Pastors visit, the man
Welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the
Fireplace and
Waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In
The grave silence, he

Contemplated the dance of the flames around the
Burning logs. After some
Minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully
Picked up a brightly
Burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth
All alone. Then he
Sat
Back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all
This in quiet
Contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame
Flickered and diminished,
There
Was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.
Soon it was cold and
Dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
The Pastor glanced
At
His watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly
Stood up, picked up

The cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle
Of the fire.
Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light
And warmth of the
Burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said
With a tear running
> Down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit
And especially for the
Fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next
Sunday."


We live in a world today, which tries to say too much
With too little.

Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons
Are the ones left
Unspoken.”
Author Unknown

Grace and Peace to You…


“2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose
Us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[c]
Predestined us to be adopted as his sons, (and daughters), through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he
Has freely given us in the one he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
Grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:2-8

What wonderful promises from our Lord! As I was reading from Ephesians this morning, these verses made me smile and joy filled my soul! Just knowing that God chose me…and you…to be His children, to share in His grace, peace and mercy! Wow, what a blessing and what a wonderful thought to start my day off with.

I thank you Lord, for choosing me to lavish your grace, peace and mercy on. For sending your Son to shed His blood so that I could receive your saving grace. I thank you for this most precious and costly gift of all gifts!

I love you my Father and your Son, my Savior!
I bow at your throne this morning with a thankful heart,
Lisa

More than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, [j]
Who[k]
Have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
Firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how
Will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who
Shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l]
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [m]
Neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 28-38

More than conquerors…way more than conquerors, that’s exactly what we are when we have God as our Father, Christ as our brother, and the Holy Spirit living in our hearts intervening for us …speaking to the Father for us when we have no words of our own.

There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. What a wonderful promise to remember during these most difficult economic times, days when evil is so prevailing not in our society. How scary it is to think how the world will be for our grandchildren if the world doesn’t turn from its wicked ways. But we have such wonderful promises in Romans from our Lord. He will be with us through it all. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will separate us from His love. He will take care of his own. Yes, there may be difficult days, some of us may lose our homes, jobs, savings…but we can never lose the treasures that are stored up for us in heaven. We can never lose eternity with Jesus! Praise the Lord and bless His Holy Name!

I thank you Lord for your promises. Come quickly I pray!

Future Glory…

Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for
The sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in
Hope 21that [I]
The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have
The first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that
Words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's
Will.”
Romans 8:18-27

Oh the inexpressible joy I feel when I dwell on the “future glory” we will receive when we meet our maker…our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As for waiting patiently…well, I’m not always so patient. I do pray for the Lord to come quickly for I/we live in such a perverse and hurting world. My heart is broken daily as I listen to the heartaches of parents whose children who have been kidnapped, the stories of women and men who have been molested as children and are just now able to tell their stories due to living in fear and shame for decades, the diseases like cancer than ravage the bodies of friends and family, bullying that goes on in our schools, and the list goes on.

Then there is the failing economy, the war, terrorist, false religions, and worst of all, a nation …our nation who has turned her back on the very God she was founded upon.

Dear Jesus,
Come quickly but until you do, please find me faithful to share your message of hope, love, redemption, and freedom from the fear and shame this world offers. Help me be a beacon of light that shines the way to you, to peace in the midst of pain, joy in the midst of sorrow, and love and life everlasting.
IN your Holy Name I pray,
Amen

A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
Eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be
Happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything
God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
And what will be has been before;
And God will call the past to account. [A]

16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
In the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I thought in my heart,
"God will bring to judgment
Both the righteous and the wicked,
For there will be a time for every activity,
A time for every deed."

18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same
Fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [b]
; Man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows
If the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal [c]
Goes down into the earth?"

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after
Him? Ecclesiastes 3

There surely is a time for everything…am I, are you, ready for everything that God has set before you to do with your life? Am I willing to give Him my all, to be totally spent for Christ…to eat, drink, and live all in the name of Jesus?

Oh how I hope and pray that I am…that you are…that my Jesus will be glad to see me when I go home!

Until that day, may this season of my life reflect His presence.
Amen.

The Best is yet to come!


Luke 14:27, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (NIV)

Upon entering the sanctuary, on the last day of revival, each worship participant was given a plastic fork. Soft murmurs could be heard through out the sanctuary as everyone tried to guess what the meaning behind the fork could be. Not only was it the culmination of a wonderful week of revival but it was Homecoming Sunday with a cover dish lunch waiting in the fellowship hall! I knew I could make good use of my fork in the near future!

Late into the sermon, Mike Pinnery, our revival preacher, revealed the purpose of the fork by relating the following story. There was a woman dying of cancer and she went to her Pastor to make her funeral arrangements. After picking out the scripture, hymns, and the pall bearers, she prepared to leave. Just before walking out of the Pastor’s office, she said “Oh, I almost forgot the two most important things. I want to be in an open casket and I want to have my Bible in one hand and a silver fork in the other hand.” The Pastor smiled, looked a little puzzled and said, “I understand wanting your Bible with you, but what the significance of the fork is baffles me?” The woman smiled and explained. “When I was a little girl and my mother would clear the dishes from the dinner table, whenever she said, “keep your fork”, I knew the best was yet to come!” The Pastor nodded his head in understanding. The woman continued…”when people ask why I have the fork in my hand, I want you to tell them that I’ve gone where the best is, and I hope to see them there!”

The revival preacher challenged us to take our plastic forks with us to work, school or wherever we went the next day and share the story with anyone whom asks why we had a fork with us. The story really inspired me so I took it a step further and went home that evening and took one of my sterling silver forks and a hammer and made a slide for a necklace out of it. I wore it to work for the next few days. Talk about a witnessing tool! I had at least 50 opportunities to share the “fork story” and so much more just by wearing the fork around my neck.

One such opportunity occurred on my third day of wearing the silver fork. It Was Wednesday and I was working in Raleigh with Services for the Blind. My Supervisor, who is Jewish, asked, and I quote, “Lisa, are you wearing your fork in case you get hungry and don’t have anything to eat with?” He thought he was being funny so I laughed and said “no, actually Larry, there is a story behind the fork, would you like to hear it?” He said “yes”. I smiled for I knew he had just taken the bait! I proceeded to tell him the story. Larry’s response was negative. He said, “Lisa, the best is here and now. It doesn’t get any better than this.” I said Oh, Larry, I beg to differ. As a Christian, I believe the best is yet to come. Quite honestly, if I thought this world was all there was, I wouldn’t want to get up in the morning. The Bible promises me a home in heaven with no more pain and suffering, peace and harmony with everyone…and the list goes on.” I said, Larry, think about our students we teach. Look at Natasha over there. She has just come from dialysis. I’m told she can barely hold her head up. What about Sandra? She has just lost her vision, her husband has walked out on her and she is left alone to raise three teenage girls. Do you really want me to tell her this is as good as it gets? Everyone in here is blind or going blind. Some of them have lost their spouse due to their vision loss, their families are having problems dealing with the changes in their lives, their health is declining and the list goes on. Do you want me to honestly tell them that today is the best there is?” There was silence for a little while. I then continued. “Larry, if I can tell these students that the skills I am teaching them today will make their tomorrow better, and the skills I’ll teach them next week will make their future weeks and months better, then they have a reason to get up in the morning, to try and come to class and to look forward to what tomorrow will bring.” I continued to tell Larry how we all need something to look forward to each day, that on days when life is so difficult and we don’t want to go on, we need to know that the “best is yet to come! Larry walked away and I offered a prayer that God’s words would be heard and honored. In just a few minutes, Larry called me over and asked me to share the “Fork story, without preaching!” with the entire class! Isn’t our Lord good. He used the compassion of a Jewish man for his clients and the boldness of a blind woman wearing a real silver dessert fork around her neck to share His word with a group of hurting people. God is good…all the time! Lisa Shearin

Election Woes…

I’m so tired of all of the election banter…democrat vs. republican…wrong vs. right. I am very concerned about our country and the direction we are headed. I listen to the commercials, the debates, read the articles, listen to the utube reports from days gone by and it scares me. Do we really know who these men and women are?

The one thing I do know is that I/we must be in constant prayer for our country, its leaders, and the election. We must pray for God’s man and woman to be placed in authority and that they will act according to His will.

As I read Psalms 5, I felt better for God is large and in charge…and no matter who wins the election, I know who will ultimately win the victory over death and the grave…and if America goes to Hell, I don’t have to go because I have a home in Heaven with my Savior Jesus Christ!

Lead on Oh King Eternal! Psalm 5
For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my sighing. !

2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
For to you I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests before you
And wait in expectation.

4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;


5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
You hate all who do wrong.

6 You destroy those who tell lies;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men
The LORD abhors.

7 But I, by your great mercy,
Will come into your house;
In reverence will I bow down?
Toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
Because of my enemies—
Make straight your way before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
Their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
With their tongue they speak deceit.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
For they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
Let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
That those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
You surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Do not hide your face from me!

“7 hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
Be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [b]
Face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,
Do not turn your servant away in anger;
You have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.” Psalms 27: 7-9


Do you ever have times in your life when you feel like the Lord is hiding His face from you? Times when you are unsure just what the Lord would have you do. Maybe you were skipping down a particular path, singing a happy tune certain that the Lord had said, “This is the way, walk (skip) in it”?
Then all of the sudden, the path grows heavy with undergrowth, or it comes to a fork or maybe it even has three ways in which you can choose and you are stumped…that happy tune leaves your lips, the skips becomes a slow walk and eventually comes to a halt and you cry out in the words of the Psalmist,
Do not hide your face from me!

“7 hear my voice when I call, O LORD;


Be merciful to me and answer me.” You desperately want to see the Lord, hear His voice and know His will for your life, yet, there is silence. What do you do? Again, you pray the words of the Psalmist,
9 Do not hide your face from me,
Do not turn your servant away in anger;
You have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.” Psalms 27: 9
and then you wait and listen for God’s voice for He will again lead you in the way you should go.


Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for guiding my path, for protecting me, for loving me so much. Please continue to be patient with me as I try to be still and listen for your voice, try to see your face, and seek to serve you each day. I want to walk in your light, spreading your truth, being obedient to your will and your word. Forgive me where I have failed.

In Jesus precious name I pray,
Amen

The Story of Adam & Eve's Pets Adam and Eve said, 'Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with usevery day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it isdifficult for us to remember how much you love us.'
And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you andwho will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me evenwhen you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovableyou may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love youas I do, in spite of yourselves.'
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged histail.
And Adam said, 'Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdomand I cannot think of a name for this new animal.'
And God said, 'I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my lovefor you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call himDOG.' And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and wagged his tail. After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said,'Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen likepeacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeedtaught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.'
And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them andwho will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of theirlimitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy ofadoration.'
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes,they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased . . . . .
And Dog was happy. . . . .
And Cat didn't give a darn one way or the other.... In God We Trust,

Kill’em and eat’em…

“Kill’em and eat’em” was part of the sermon our Music Minister delivered last night. Rather strange you may think, but it really stuck in my mind and drove the point home. He was talking about different styles of worship and different types of worship music. He used references from the Bible where Paul was given the opportunity to or the freedom to “kill and eat” the meat/animals set apart for sacrifices. He was told by God that he was not bound by the laws of the land…but if it was offensive to the people, he should refrain, but if it was acceptable to the people he was trying to minister to, then by all means, “Kill them and eat them!”

So the point of the sermon, was in our worship styles, especially the music, we should sing and play the music that reaches the heart of the people we are trying to bring to Christ. It shouldn’t matter what the beat of the music is as long as the message of the music is the same …The words must glorify Jesus Christ, sing of His love for us, His sacrifice for us, and bring glory to His name.

When a Contemporary Christian Band can draw over 800 people to the lawn of our church on a sweltering Saturday afternoon, I believe the “Kill’em and eat’em “ idea is working and we need to do more of it. Get out of your comfort zone and worship the Lord to whatever beat will bring the most lost souls to Christ!

Lisa…gonna Kill’em and eat’em!

Truthful lips endure forever…


19 Truthful lips endure forever,
But a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” Proverbs 12:19

Wow, isn’t that powerful?! How many lies have I told over my lifetime? Yes, I know you’re thinking, “well, she’s a Christian and she’s admitting to lying…how terrible of her”.
It’s time to “fess up” as Granny would say. We all have lied, stretched the truth, told a non-truth, white lie, fib, or just a bold face lie at one time or another. Unless you are ready to meet your maker, you had better get a handle on your lying lips because God’s word has just told us that those lying lips last but a moment!

I have a friend who is practicing speaking God’s truths to herself every day…truths about who she is in relationship to Christ, how He loves her, died for her, and is her source of strength and comfort each and every day.
I think that’s a good place for all of us to start practicing telling the truth…to ourselves. Talk to yourself, everyday. Tell yourself God’s truths from His word. As you read the Bible, speak God’s word in the first person. Put your name in the scriptures.

For example…John3:16 “For God so loved Lisa, that he gave His only son, that when Lisa believes in Him she will have eternal life!”
Isn’t that wonderful. Christ died for me, you and everyone…putting your name in the scriptures just makes it a little more real.

Now, go up to the beginning of this blog and put you name in verse 19 of Proverbs 12…Makes you think, doesn’t it.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to bridle my tongue. Help me to speak the truth at all times so I may live a life that is pleasing to you. Forgive my lies and help me to recognize lies when they are forming in my mind so I won’t allow them to escape from my mouth. Thank you for your Word that teaches me how to live according to your will.

In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen

Plain as the nose on your face…

Proverbs 2
“Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words
And store up my commands within you,

2 turning your ear to wisdom
And applying your heart to understanding,

3 and if you call out for insight
And cry aloud for understanding,

4 and if you look for it as for silver
And search for it as for hidden treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
And from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
He is a shield to those, whose walk is blameless,

8 for he guards the course of the just
And protects the way of his faithful ones.”

So, I’m reading my Bible this morning and it hits me. It is truly as plain as the nose on my face…If I read and follow God’s word, how much easier my life would be. Now, I realize that it’s difficult to be “blameless” all the time, but just think of it. Reread the Proverb above and dwell on it a bit. If we truly seek wisdom as if it were silver or gold, (just as we work hard for the almighty dollar) think of the knowledge we would possess, the wise decisions we would make and all the trouble we would avoid in our lives!

Dear Heavenly Farther,
I pray that I would seek your wisdom daily. That I would search your word for every bit of wisdom you have so freely given so that I may live a blameless life and walk on a right path that leads to you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

- The Bathtub Test
During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the Director how do You determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized?
'Well,' said the Director, 'we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a Teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to
Empty the bathtub.'
'Oh, I understand,' I said. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.'
'No' said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?' (Found this little jewel on the internet) I want the bed next to the window...how about you?

Back on the Wagon…

I fell off the wagon…not the welcome wagon, the band wagon, and not the sobriety wagon…I fell off the wagon of personal commitment to daily seeking God first thing each morning. It wasn’t a long hard fall; it was more of a gradual slide of shortening my time spent in prayer and Bible study. It then became easier to just work it into part of my day…some where in my day…no certain time…just somewhere. Then before I knew it, I was saying my bedtime prayers and they included my morning prayers as well. The little devotions I was getting from a friend and from a few other sources were substituting for my personal Bible study.

Then it hit me…I’d fallen off the wagon…the wagon of personal commitment to spend a certain time each day seeking to know my Lord better, to praise Him, to honor Him, to intercede for others to Him, and I was feeling pretty yucky!

My days just wore on and I couldn’t seem to focus on anything…when I did try to pray, I’d fall asleep or my mind would wander to other things…I felt like the Hebrews wondering around in the wilderness for forty years! Thankfully, it’s only been days, well maybe a week or so for me but it feels like a long time that I’ve been floundering around with no purpose, no right path to take, no voice from my God saying, “This is the way, walk in it”.

So, I’m back on the wagon as of this morning. I made sure I started my day with prayer, Bible study, and praise and thanksgiving. I didn’t read the other devotions until late in the day. I put first things first…that would be my time with my Savior…after all; He did give His life just for me! Today seemed to have more purpose, I accomplished more today than I have in a week. Aah, the joy that fills my soul when I am grounded in God’s word.

Thank you Lord for bringing your wayward child back to your word…back to the wagon. I thank you that the wagon didn’t leave without me…That you are always there waiting for your children to see the error of their ways and return to You and that you welcome us with open arms…lifting us up on the wagon, into your lap so we can learn from your Word, and rest in your peace and presence. Thank you my Savior!

All my love,
Lisa The Wagon dweller

Beauty Marks…

What are the marks of beauty? I mean really, what it is that defines beauty? What is it that makes a person beautiful?

As I prepare to speak at a Ladies Tea at a Senior Citizen’s Center, I am thinking about all the marks of beauty those ladies possess. Some may call them wrinkles, but I call them laugh lines…you know those deep lines around the mouth that deepen when they smile. How beautiful they are. The deeper the lines the greater the joy that life has experienced.

Then you have the brow or forehead wrinkles…how precious they are. These are the precious marks left from years of watching, worrying and and hopefully praying over their friends, and family. You see the creases made when they are told of the death of a loved one, when their heart is broken because their child is in harms way defending our country, when their best friend has cancer, these are the marks of beauty for they show the deep concern these women share for everyone they love

Then there are the liver spots, or old age spots, as some would call them, can there be beauty in these marks, you may ask? Why yes, these beauty marks show just how hard this body has fought the good fight, has weathered the storms of life, has withstood the test of time, and lived to tell about it. These beauty marks tell of days spent at the beach before there was such a thing as such screen, when beauty was more than skin deep, and when the most important beauty trait a person possessed was their inner beauty.

Finally, we have our crowning glory…our silver hair. It is truly a mark of beauty…it must be so because even Miss America is crowned with a crown made of silver that sparkles and shines!

Barbie may think she is the ideal of beauty…but I’ll take my laugh lines, wrinkled brow, liver spots, and silver hair for they show the dignity, wisdom, love, and grace that can only be perfected with age!

Dear Lord,
Thank you for my Mother and the other wise women who have taught me to grow old gracefully. While I still may hide my gray hair and use my anti-wrinkle cream, help me to remember, that with age comes beauty beyond compare. Thank you for the beauty you are perfecting in me. Thank you for the beauty in the women around me…for my mentors. Help me to always know that beauty is so much more than skin deep. Help us all to see your scars for the beauty of salvation that they brought and still bring.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

A Daughters Love…

I had the privilege of spending the weekend alone with my youngest daughter, Amanda. My husband went to see his Mother, which I probably should have done as well, but I don’t get to have many one on one times with my “grown-up kids” so I stayed home.
Amanda arrived Friday evening about 5:30 and we headed to our favorite Japanese restaurant where we enjoyed a leisurely dinner. We then visited Wal-mart where we purchased all the ingredients for the new dishes Amanda wanted to learn to make…corn pudding, meatloaf, Vidalia onion casserole, and resurrection rolls! While we were waiting in the check out line, I called Pizza Inn and ordered a Chocolate Chip pizza for our dessert that we could pick up on the way home.

Upon arriving home, putting away the groceries, and starting to settle in for a night of watching the Olympics, I opened the pizza box. It was burnt. I said, “Amanda this will never do…I ordered extra gooey/runny…look on the ticket and see if it says that!” Amanda asks, “Where is the receipt?” “Oops,” I say, “I put my chewing gum in it and put it in the cup holder in the car.” So Amanda goes and gets it out of the car, scrapes the gum off of it and reads the ticket…”it does say extra rummy”. I get on the phone and call the restaurant back, explain the situation and say I’d like another pizza. The manager is then put on the phone and hears me out and agrees to make me another pizza.
Amanda and I get back in the car, gummy receipt and burnt pizza in hand and head back to Pizza Inn. We pull up to the drive in window and our Pizza is waiting…extra runny and loaded with chocolate chips! We offer to give back the burnt one but they say we can have that one too!

We finally get home, don our pj’s, and settle in for a night of girl talk, great dessert pizza, and Olympics.
We hadn’t been watching long when Amanda says this must really stink for you Mom, not being able to see what’s going on. Then Michael Phelps swims his record breaking swim that is so close it is a photo finish. She proceeds to describe it to me. Amanda’s wonderful descriptions allow me to see through her eyes. How wonderful to be able to see again…even if just for a little while. How wonderful! Amanda is so conscience of my feelings and what I am missing visually so she tries to fill me in on what things look like whenever possible. It is such a blessing to have such a thoughtful daughter who is willing to give up a whole weekend to spend with her Mom.

Saturday morning we ate leftover chocolate chip pizza for breakfast…I tried to bring it to Amanda in bed but she got up before I got all the way back to the bedroom with her plate. Amanda spent a good part of the day working on her tan, while I did some laundry and wrote another chapter of my book. Together we cleaned out the top of my closet, changed the sheets on the beds and watched more Olympics. We finally cooked her new dishes that evening with pretty good success. The corn pudding wasn’t my favorite. I’d never made it before so I didn’t know how to guide her. She took all those leftovers home!

We shared some secrets. I’ll never tell. I promise!

Sunday we went to church and came home and ate leftovers, watched a movie, worked on the computer, packed up some pots and pans for her to take to her apartment, and she was off. Oh how my heart aches when she leaves. How precious my children are to me…what a gift from the Lord. I thank God for the extra measure of patience God has blessed Amanda with when it comes to dealing with a blind Mom. There will be stars in her crown!

I love you Amanda,
Mom…the keeper of the secret!!

I am sharing this wonderful story I received from a dear friend. I don't know who wrote it. Read, reflect and enjoy!
block quote
---------- A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT OLD BARNS
Only years of standing in the weather,
bearing the storms and scorching sun,
only that can produce beautiful barn wood. A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking.
He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway.
I told him right off he was crazy.
He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car,his hands, and the way he talked.
He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn
sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale.
I told him he had a funny idea of beauty. Sure, it was a handsome building in its day.
But then, there's been a lot of winters pass with their snow
and ice and howling wind.The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's gone,
and the wood has turned silver gray.
Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired.
Yet, that fellow called it beautiful. That set me to thinking.
I walked out to the field and just stood there, gazing at that old barn.The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den
in a new country home he's building down the road.
He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful.Only years of standing in the weather,
bearing the storms and scorching sun,
only that can produce beautiful barn wood. It came to me then. We're a lot like that, you and I.
Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us.
Sure we turn silver gray too... and lean a bit more than
we did when we were young and full of sap.
But the Good Lord knows what He's doing.
And as the years pass He's busy using the hard weather of our lives,
the dry spells and the stormy seasons to do a job of beautifying
our souls that nothing else can produce.
And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy! They took the old barn down today and hauled it away
to beautify a rich man's house.
And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off
to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord
has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.
And I suspect we'll be more beautiful
then for the seasons we've been through here...
and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house. May there be peace within you today.
May you trust God that you are
exactly where you are meant to be. And...
I do sincerely thank God
for my wonderful friends and family
who love me even though
I do show signs of slowly weathering just around the edges.
block quote end

Maybe I'll let my gray hair grow out...just maybe!

Truly

Allison’s boyfriend has a cat name “Truly”. Allison is allergic to cats. Joey loves truly, and he has become quite smitten with Allison as well so he has a real problem. Allison and Truly can’t be in the same place at the same time for very long before Allison’s eyes begin to turn red, water, itch, and eventually swell shut. She also sneezes, and her nose gets all stuffy.

Poor Joey, what’s a guy to do when the two loves of his life can’t be in the same room?

Never fear, the sightless wonder has a wonderful idea! I think we should start a prayer chain, praying for all of Truly’s fur to fall out. Then Allison and Truly could be best buds and Joey could have the best of both worlds! Doesn’t that sound like a great idea?!?

I guess there is the other alternative, to pray for Allison’s allergies to go away, but I think the idea of a hairless cat is much better.

Just think of it, no hairballs to clean up, no lint rolling the black pants with truly hair on them, no cat hair on your white clothes or your black ones…yes, a hairless cat would solve the problem for sure!

Pray away my friends pray away!

Self-discipline


Hebrews 12:10, “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”

Self-discipline is so difficult to establish for me in some areas. Kids have it made and they don’t even know it. They have someone to set all the rules and boundaries for them…they don’t get to choose whether to eat a whole dozen donuts or not…their Mother sees to it that they eat what is healthy and adds just the right amount of “treats” so they don’t become fat or unhealthy. Kids don’t, or at least back in my day, have to be told to go out and exercise. We were always riding bikes, playing tag, football, baseball,
Kickball, jump rope, dodge ball, and all sorts of other active games. There were very few “fat” kids.

What has happened…I guess what has happened is the age of technology…this darn and yet blessed computer. It has both blessed and cursed our children’s generation. They now have the strongest fingers and eye muscles ever but their bodies are going to waste. I’m glad someone invented the Wi (sp). The first time I heard some talking about that, I thought they said “weed” and I said “you bought your child some marijuana?” Yes, I know, “it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool then speak up and remove all doubt!” I definitely removed all doubt that day!

My self-discipline issues come with exercise…when my exercise partner doesn’t show up at the appointed hour of 5AM; it is so easy for me to just go back to bed. But…my BUTT shows the fact that I need the exercise and don’t need to go back to bed.

So…I finally quit letting my partners excuses be my excuses. I went out and bought a treadmill so I’d be ready if a day came and my partner didn’t show I’d just get on my own treadmill and walk. Well that day came this morning. I got up and got ready, did the normal stretching I do in preparation for my friends arrival. But she didn’t show. So I did some push ups, some squats, some more stretches…still no friend. Then I tell myself, “Lisa, that treadmill may be too noisy this early in the morning. It might wake Lee up and he needs his sleep. So, I did what all kind and thoughtful wives would do, I climbed back in bed and went to sleep!

When I woke up at 7AM, I felt rather guilty and decided to go and walk on that new treadmill. I turned the stereo up loud, on the Christian station, of course, and up the stairs I went. I turned on the machined that was so loud I couldn’t even hear the music. I took that as a sign that I needed to pray. I prayed for the entire 30 minutes I walked on the treadmill. It was a nice time I spent with God, getting this body in shape and talking with my Father. I asked for His help to be more disciplined in the future!

Today was a good day!

The funniest thing…

For those of you who know me…who have seen me…you know that I am…hummm, how do I say this? Well, let’s just say I could never get a job at “Hooters”. They wouldn’t even let me pick up an application…if you get my point.

When you hear the term “bustline” just think of the “line part and there you have me.
I was at work one day, minding my own business (for sure), and we were eating lunch. Well, they had us at these tables where the chairs were really low. Maybe a Childs chair or something. So my friend/co-worker, is sitting across from me eating her lunch and grumbling about spilling things on her “endowment fund”. I have never seen my friend, remember, I’m blind…so I innocently ask, “What are you talking about?” She proceeds to tell me, “these chairs are so low, that my endowment fund is almost sitting on the table and every crumb that falls lands right on top”. I apparently am looking a little puzzled because another one of our co-workers, pipes up and says, “Lisa, She could work at Hooters””

I just laugh and say well, I could never work there, as I look down in the direction of my lap. My friend says “Yeah, you could only get a job at the Make a Wish Foundation”!

What would we do without such good friends to keep us humble???



I don’t know why God make me this way but He did so I shall thank Him for His handiwork. The world would be boring if everyone was the same. I thank God for our differences for we are all beautiful in our own way and all beautiful in God’s eye’s for He created us!

Have a beautiful day…look in the mirror and thank God for the unique way he designed you!
Much love,
Lisa, the no bustline but feeling fine one!

Let Freedom Reign...

Let Freedom Reign…

As I reflect on Independence Day, I am thankful for so many things! Thankful for the freedom I have just by being an American citizen…thankful for the Freedom I have as a follower of Christ, knowing I am saved by grace and grace alone!

I’m thankful for the independence I’ve gained from learning the skills taught at the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Raleigh, NC…for my teachers there and their commitment to enabling every blind person the opportunity to regain their independence after vision loss.

I’m thankful for the freedom to choose to live a life of independence and the privilege to help others make that same choice.

I’m thankful for all those who have gone before me and made a way for me to walk this road of freedom, independence, and grace. What an honor to walk in your footprints…to follow your legacy and to hopefully leave a legacy of my own that others can follow toward greater independence and freedom. Freedom not only from enemies that seek to destroy us, but from enemies that lie with in our hearts…hidden sins, addictions, failures, shames, poor choices, unforgiveness and so much more. We have Christ who gives us the grace, mercy and peace needed to make the right choices, seek forgiveness, take chances, make a new start, and begin to live and walk in His footprints, follow His legacy…for then, we can not fail and it is then we find the ultimate true Freedom and Independence!

Happy Independence Day my friends in Christ!
Lisa, the sightless but oh so free one!

Blogger Snob…

So, I’m thinking that everyone is thinking that I’m a “blogger snob”! You see, I can read everyone else’s blogs, and they are great…but I can’t reply or leave a comment on their blogs. So, they assume I’m a “blogger snob”. I mean, why wouldn’t I want to comment on their awesome blogs? I would love to. I have so many wonderful comments running through my mind and would love to share them with the blogger world, but I am shut off due to my frustrating assistive technology! If you are new to my blog, I’m totally blind and use a talking software program called “JAWS”. Well, “JAWS” and I sometimes just don’t get along. He has a mind of his own and won’t cooperate with me and my wishes.

I’ve tried to find another blind blogger, but so far, no luck! So, in the meantime…I will go on being a “blogger snob” in the eyes of the sighted world.

If anyone out there can help me figure out how to leave a comment on someone else’s blog, give me a shout for I hate being a snob! It just tarnishes my halo, which is already in need of some major polishing and dent repair as it is!

Happy blogging to you anyway!
Lisa…the not really snobby, blogger!

27 Years of Bliss!

Yesterday Lee and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. Now I may have lied in my title when I said 27 years of bliss because we all know no marriage is total bliss. I’ve been told that ignorance is bliss and marrying at the age of 20 could be considered, by some, ignorance…but we just grew up together.

Last night Lee got out a box of letters I had written to him during my freshman year in college. It was interesting to hear my thoughts from so many years ago…me telling him that “I don’t think God wants me to date right now, you or anyone.” Lee said it wasn’t nice of me to use God to do my dirty work of breaking up with him. But as he read those letters, I could remember the great spiritual growth I was experiencing at that time and in my mind, I didn’t have room for Lee and God. If I had to choose one, I’m glad I chose God!

Thankfully, God allowed me to have Lee in my life as well a few months later and here we are 27 years later thanking God for His faithfulness. For a love that has grown stronger through the years, a love that has sustained us through some pretty difficult days that many marriages wouldn’t have survived.

While my letters may have seemed a cop out…I see the greater picture and how God was drawing me to himself so I would be prepared and tied to the anchor of Christ when the storms of life hit.

What a double blessing it is to have Lee by my side during these storms. I pray for 27 more years of bliss!

My gift my girlfriends ask…a new dress lee says, “To replace that hideous one of Sherri’s you have worn to the last two weddings, so you’ll never have to wear it again!”
I said, “Tell me how you really feel about the dress!” So I guess I’ll mail my sister back her lovely beaded dress since Lee seems to have an aversion to it!

Sometimes, Ignorance is bliss!
Lisa, the no longer wondering if Lee liked the dress one!

She Writes...Awesome, hey, hey, totally...

Awesome, hey, hey, totally…!

Awesome, hey, hey, totally! Those are the words of a cheer my girls used to cheer when they were wee ones. Today, that is the cheer of my heart after attending “She Speaks”. It was “Awesome, hey, hey, totally!” The seminars were topp notch….great speakers…great selection of subjects…and to top it all off were the availability of book publishers!

I had the privilege of meeting with FOUR publishers/agents. One rejected me right off the bat saying she was just about to release Jennifer Rothschild’s latest book and basically didn’t need another blind woman writer. The other three, however, were interested in my book! Yea! While I know this doesn’t mean any of them will publish my book, at least they will read it and that’s a start! One of the companies wants the completed manuscript before she reads any of it…so I have my work cut out for me. My goal is to have my book finished in SIX weeks!

What was I thinking??? I work better under pressure…so here I go. I shall be hibernating for the summer in my little office at my little laptop typing away.

Please join me in prayer for guidance as I seek to share from my heart all that God has accomplished in my life these past four and a half years.

The working title of my book is…”A Journey from the Gurney”.

A Journey from the Gurney is the captivating story of my journey from a life-threatening illness that should have, by all medical standards, left me dead or severely mentally handicapped. Thankfully, I serve a God of miracles and He chose to grant me several miracles during my journey from the gurney.

November 30, 2003 was the eventful day my stomach ruptured and I slipped into a coma, remaining in that state for 32 days. When I awoke, I was blindsided – literally! Talk about a rude awakening…it was devastating to say the least! Thankfully, I chose Christ to give me the courage to face the challenges that lay before me as I became completely and permanently blind. My faith sustained me through those most difficult days and my Savior promised He would never leave me nor forsake me. I have held tight to that promise.

A Journey from the Gurney chronicles in diary format, my personal journey through the grieving and healing process of my physical, emotional and spiritual health. I am exceedingly transparent, humorous, and honest in the book, as I have been with my audiences sharing my story for the past four years. I have not glossed over the difficult days but have been quick to give God the glory for His amazing grace.

My book is not “preachy” but one even non-Christians can read and draw strength, comfort and challenge from. A Journey from the Gurney is a story of triumph over tragedy, peace in the midst of pain and joy greater than sorrow.

Once again, I give thanks to God for His provision at “She Speaks”. I’ll try to keep blogging in the process!

To my blind friends…if any of you have figured out how to use the comments section on others blogs, clue me in! I can’t figure it out for the life of me!


Peace to you all!
Lisa, Awesome, hey, hey, totally!

Refiners Fire!

I’m back! I had a wonderful weekend at “She Speaks”, the Christian writer’s and speaker’s conference I attended over the weekend. The best part of the weekend, other than spending quality time with my precious daughter, Amanda, was getting to know the women in my speaker evaluation group! What women of faith they are…truly Proverbs 31 women they are or at least striving to be!

The life experiences they brought to the group were heartbreaking, heart wrenching, heartfelt, and heartwarming and heart mending. I know that is hard to believe….all of those emotions wrapped into one but it is true. (You just had to be there!)

Not only had these precious sisters in Christ walked through the refiners fire, but they had also crawled, rolled, been dragged, stood, laid down, been carried, ran swam, and leapt through to emerge on the other side victorious in Christ! I must say, some are still in the midst of the fire…I could smell the smoke, feel the heat but I also felt the presence of the Lord, His Holy Spirit, and the Father as the trinity was ever present in their lives!

Kudos to my new “Sisterchicks”…keep walking, crawling, running or whatever it takes for your journey to be complete. Never forget God’s promise in Joel 2:25-26…The restoration of the locust years!
If you are out of the fire, give thanks and drink from the still waters…then don your flame retardant apparel for the next fire is just around the bend. If you are still in the fire, hang in there…He will never leave you or forsake you!
Remember, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger! (If that statement is correct, then I should be able to carry an armored truck on one arm, an army tank on the other, all the while carrying my house on my back!)

Stay tuned…Tomorrow, I’ll tell you the news about my meetings with the book publishers!

Have a wonderful afternoon and know you a
re loved and cherished!
Lisa, the sightless but so full of wonder, one!

This blog is NOT out of order...

This Blog is NOT out of Order…just the Blogger is!

Dear Loyal Readers,
Please forgive my long absence in blogging! My life has been “out of order”. I’ve been dealing with the poor health of both my parents, especially my Father whose condition continues to ebb and flow. One of my dearest friends buried her 29 year old son yesterday…which is totally out of order! Parents aren’t supposed to burry their children! We have a summer intern/missionary living with us for the month of June who is 19…and I am feverishly writing on my book and book proposal for the Proverbs 31 “She Speaks” conference this weekend. (I haven’t even started on my two speeches I have to give to a peer evaluation group!) My sisterchick, Jill, who was to be my guide monkey for the conference has become ill and cannot attend. So, my back-up, Amanda, my 21 year old daughter is joining me.

In the midst of all of this, my computer went on strike and I spent a week trying to get it fixed. I’m still having a little trouble with my talking software…it is picking and choosing what it will read to me…so who knows what I have missed in the past few months!

After the conference, unless my book proposal is a big success and I have to spend all my time finishing my book, I plan to be back blogging on a regular basis!
Thanks for your patience and prayers!


Much love,
Lisa the out of order but living by GRACE, one!

The Locust years…

I had the privilege of speaking to 11 of the most courageous women I have ever met Monday night. These women are survivors of domestic violence. Some of them are survivors of sexual abuse as well. They are all survivors of multiple types of abuse be it verbal, emotional, physical, and/or sexual. While some have endured their horrific circumstances for years, others were able to escape within the first months or years. All have scars, some visible to the human eye, all visible to our heavenly Father.

While the physical bruises, cuts, and burns will heal naturally, the emotional wounds will take much time, love, compassion, and hard work on the survivor’s part before they will heal. BUT…they can and will heal when our Heavenly Father is the source of strength, hope, courage, and love from which these women choose to draw from. Christ and Christ alone fully understand the depth of their pain, their needs, fears, hopes and dreams.

What courage I heard in their voices as they shared what they had learned from the classes they had been taking. The strength they had received from each other and the hope they now have for a life free from abuse.

My prayer is that God will use my words to His glory and let my words bring encouragement, hope, and a challenge to choose to live a life dedicated to Christ. I pray they will choose to focus on the good and positive changes that are taking place in their lives and not dwell on the horrors of the past.
I pray that they will believe, trust, hope, and receive God’s promise in Joel where God promises to restore to His people the years that were taken from them in such a horrible way. He will give them more than they had and they will not be ashamed! What a wonderful promise!

Joel 2:25 (NAS)

"Then I will make up to you for the years
That the swarming locust has eaten,
The creeping locust, the stripping locust and
The gnawing locust,
My great army which I sent among you."

Joel 2:26 (NAS) “You shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame."

Glory be to God through whom all things are possible!

For Such a Time as This…

Please pray for the following speaking engagements:
The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and lives of the Ladies of Goldston Baptist Church. I spoke to them this afternoon at their Ladies luncheon. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. I could truly feel God’s presence in that place!

Monday May 19th, I speak to a group of Domestic violence survivors. These ladies have made a commitment to change. They have completed a 10 week course in life skills to help them transition from victim to survivor to thriver. I’m honored to be the keynote speaker for their graduation. I won’t disclose the location for safety purposes. Please pray for these women and their children as they learn to value themselves and learn what true unconditional love is. Pray the cycle of abuse will stop with them and Christ will win their hearts!

May 30-31 I will be speaking at the State wide Lion’s Club Convention in Greensboro, NC. Pray for God’s message to be heard in this secular arena. This event could open many doors for my ministry to reach the unchurch, unsaved with God’s message of hope and salvation!

June 1, I will be speaking at Hodges Chapel located between Benson and Coats, NC. This is Baptist Woman’s Day. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit as I seek to serve Him.

June 1st. we begin hosting a summer intern with the Southern Baptist Convention. She will be with the church planting team. She will be in our home for the month of June.

June 19-22, I will be attending the Proverbs 31 writers and speakers conference in Charlotte, NC. Pray that I grow in my ability to break the bread of life more effectively and that I am prepared to present my book ideas to publishers…and that I can handle rejection if this is not the time for my book to be written and published!

As always, I appreciate and need your prayers to sustain me!
I thank you my faithful friends! May God bless you in all your endeavors as you seek to serve our Savior in your gifts and talents that He has abundantly imparted to each of you!

Much love my sisterchicks!
Lisa…the sightless wonderer!

When Little Boys Grow Up…

When little boys grow up it really tugs on a mother’s heart. You see it coming but somehow, you’re not quite ready for it when it happens. There are so many stages…infant to toddler, child to adolescence, teenager to young adult and then all of the sudden they are a full grown man.

A mother goes from wiping tears, runny noses, and bloody knees and kissing boo, boos to constantly reminding them to take their allergy meds, “don’t forget to use your inhaler before your soccer game and be sure to wear your ankle brace.” Only To finding the inhaler on the kitchen table and making the hour drive to the away game to give the inhaler to your son…just in case he didn’t have a spare one in his gym bag!

Watching them make choices with wisdom beyond their years and then watching them make choices that surely only a brainless alien would make…all the while ready to be there to love and comfort, admonish and encourage.

And then somewhere right around their 25th birthday, they just seem to have it all together. At least in my experience, my “little buddy”, just became such a man. I’ve really noticed his wisdom so much lately. He has turned out to be such a Godly man. He knows when to trust his own judgment and when to seek the counsel of his elders. He remembers to honor his father and mother and do so with such love and respect that it makes my heart swell with pride and my soul sing praise to my Lord for His grace. What a gift my son has been…a precious gift from my heavenly Father. What a blessing to see the fruits of our labor as parents in our son…a pure joy and blessing it is to be his Mom.
I thank you God and Jeffrey! All my love,
Mom

The Joys of Motherhood

From infant coos, to high school woos...
From tear stained faces, to social graces...
From bloody knees to runny noses...
From paper dolls to sun-dried roses...
From chicken pox to chicken soup...
From daytime fevers to nighttime croup...
From little kittens to puppy dogs...
From garden snakes to pollywogs...
From bed-time prayers, to good night kisses...
From grass stained dresses to dirty dishes...
From broken hearts, to brand new starts...
From baby girls in little curls...
To grownup women in strands of pearls...
From little boys with broken arms...
To handsome men with manly charms...
From Sunday school, to Baptismal pool...
From a mother’s knee, to eternity…
Children, such precious gifts from God to thee!


Lisa Shearin
May 9, 2006

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time there was a little girl…
She had beautiful blonde hair and the cutest little dimple. She was the middle child in the family and at some point dubbed herself “Cinderella”. But her parents never really treated her like Cinderella. They loved her just as much as the other children. This child was just a little more headstrong and determined to have and do things in her own way and in her own time.

She became a non-conformist, which served her well through her high school and college years. She never succumbed to the pressures of her peers to partake in the evils of the world and abide in alcohol and drugs.

She seemed to enjoy life more than most people her age. She knew how to have fun and could make everyone laugh just by imitating the voices of characters in movies like Shrek.

Yes, she could frustrate her parents and siblings because she could be quick tempered…especially if she didn’t get her required 10 hours of sleep a night…and she has a low tolerance for stupidity in others (which she gets from her father’s side of the family)!

She is very passionate about the things SHE believes in and doesn’t give a hoot about the things she doesn’t. She plays to win or she doesn’t play. She loves the Lord and works for Him each day. She isn’t perfect, but who is. She is still growing in her faith, maturity, in learning what it means to be responsible to God family and country and friends.

Most of all, she is my daughter and I love her, appreciate her, pray for her, and am thankful that she is also my friend.

I Thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful young woman who is more than a daughter, she is also my friend! I love you, Allison

I see that you are handicapped…

I see that you are handicapped…
I bet you’re wondering what I mean by that.

You have all your fingers and all your toes…
The five senses, you have all of those.

I on the other hand cannot see…
And yes, I know, you feel sorry for me.

But save your sorrow for another day…
My heavenly Father made me this way.

He chose me to spread His Holy word…
Because of my blindness, so many have heard.

Now let’s get back to your handicap…
It’s your vision, I’m sure of that.

You see with eyes everyone you meet…
You look them over from head to feet.

But you could see so much more…
If their outer garments you could ignore.

I’m not influenced by their skin, clothes or hair…
Do their shoes match their purse, I just don’t care.

Tattoos and tongue rings you can’t help but see…
Sometimes it’s good to be blind, like me!

Their home, his car, her jewelry box…
Surely, they don’t wear black shoes with white socks.

You judge at first, by what you see…
I am blessed because that never happens with me.

I see others with my heart, it’s true…
I judge them by what they say and do.

I challenge you, my sighted friends…
To let go your handicap, begin again.

Turn a blind eye to skin, clothes, and hair…
And your life will be blessed beyond compare.

Lisa ShearinJan. 27, 2006

Tried to impress, ended in distress

Tried to impress, ended in distress!

I decided I needed to broaden my circle of friends so I joined a Bible study with a group of ladies, of which I knew none. I volunteered to bring refreshments to our second meeting thinking that I would make my Hawaiian dessert or banana split pie as some call it. Well, I ended up not having all the ingredients, nor time or transportation to get and make that dessert in time. So, I settled for donuts from Sherry’s Bakery. As is always my dilemma, finding a way to pick up the donuts was a little problem but my precious friend, Danielle came through for me!

I had the cups, napkins, donuts and just needed Lee to pick up ice and drinks on our way to Bible Study that night.

Bible Study starts at 7 so I emailed Lee a reminder at work so he would be home on time…but of course, something went wrong. Lee doesn’t arrive home until 7:09 and we dash off to the grocery to get drinks and ice and arrive at Bible study around 7:35. The ladies were glad to have the delicious donuts and didn’t give me too difficult of a time for being late….especially since half the donuts were chocolate!
We are studying the book of James. This week we studied Chapter 2 and how Christians should treat everyone the same…having no prejudice toward social class, wealth, or lack there of, color of skin or nationality, job, or anything else that cause us to esteem one person or group above another. This lesson went along so well with my poem” I See that you are Handicapped” that I intended to take a copy for the group. But as the rest of my plans for that day were going…I left it at home. So, at the request of my dear friend, Essie, I will attempt to post it on my blog at a later date.

Miscommunication!

Miscommunication!

Miscommunication, not communicating or stating clearly what is expected of you or a situation. I’ve definitely had some experiences with this! Boy can things get complicated and frustrating when miscommunication occurs. I was bitterly reminded of this today as I had to do some last minute damage control.

I was recently sent a devotional, by Sally Cullbreth, containing the following…
“One of my favorite comedians, Gilda Radner, played a character who was highly opinionated and always wrong. Emily Litella was the character's name (watch old Saturday Night Live shows from the mid-1970's and you'll understand why I love her!). Any subject that Miss Litella zeroed in on for commentary was wrongly perceived, wrongly interpreted, and almost always formed around a minor point of confusion that made all the difference in the world.

She would rant and rave about "the eagles' rights amendment," "protection of endangered feces," or "violins on television," and, as her tirade went on and on, someone would firmly correct her. "That's the equal rights amendment." "That's protection of endangered species." "It's VIOLENCE on television, not VIOLINS." This sudden disclosure of correct information would silence her immediately. As she collected her papers and her composure, she would say with the same demure certainty with which she began, "Never mind."

I guess Emily Litella’s “never mind” is equivalent to my or todays “Whatever”. When I hear those words, “whatever”, I know someone is frustrated, probably wrong about something, and just wants to brush it off as no big deal when in reality, it may have been a really big deal to the person to whom the “whatever” was spat at. I’ve grown to detest the way in which people use the word “whatever”. The tone, the volume, and the flippant manner in which it is spoken tell me the speaker isn’t sorry, doesn’t truly acknowledge they are wrong, and absolutely doesn’t care enough to remedy the situation.

What a shame! So many hurts could be healed, wrongs could be righted, and broken hearts mended, if we would be willing to say…
“I didn’t understand I was wrong, I’m sorry, let’s try and figure out how this situation got out of hand, you are important to me!

Friends and relationships are to important and too precious to treat them with the careless “never minds” and “whatevers!”
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34 NIV
Ok, there are those times when a “never mind” is a good thing to say…like when you ask your best friend what she weighs…then as soon as the words have left your mouth, you wish you hadn’t ask. Now that is a good time to laugh and say, “NEVER MIND”!

She speaks, boy does she speak!

Here is my speaking schedule for the next few weeks. Please keep me and the recipients of my messages in your prayers.

Pray for God’s message to be heard and His name to be glorified!
Thanks my friends!
Lisa…the sightless but not always so wonderful one!

April 24, 10AM Cape Fear Christian Academy…Chapel Service 6th-12th grades.
April 26th, True Gospel Baptist Church Madison, NC (Greensboro area) 5PM Mother/Daughter Banquet
April 27th, Opposition Rally in the Park, to Liquor by the Drink…Time (TBA) Erwin, NC
April 29th, Lee/Chatam Mini-center 10AM Sanford, NC
May 3, First Christian Baptist Church Randleman, NC 11AM Ladies Banquet
May 4th, North Clinton Ave. Baptist Church Dunn, NC Senior Citizens Day 11AM service

Like Mother like Daughter

I was the guest speaker for a Ladies Tea at Stephen’s Chapel Church in Smithfield, NC yesterday afternoon. It was a delightful event with 7 different tables decorated by 7 different ladies according to 7 different Bible verses. These ladies went all out! They had the fine china, crystal, sterling silver, cloth napkins and all the finery you can imagine. Each table hostess read her Bible verse and described her table and introduced the ladies at her table. The guest included Mothers, daughters, granddaughters, Aunts, sisters, cousins and friends.

After the introductions, I shared my testimony and then enjoyed a time of fellowship with these gracious women over tea and delectable treats of all sorts!

My time spent with the Ladies of Stephens Chapel brought to mind some WONDERful moments I have recently spend with my girls, Mom, and sister’s.

I’ll share a few of those wonder-filled moments with you! Amanda and I were driving home from a long day of shopping when she asked if I had gone to the meeting at our church about the “gays in our community”. Yes, you read that right. I said, what are you talking about? She said, “Mom, you know, last Sunday the Pastor said he wanted everyone to be there that Wednesday night for a special meeting about the problem with “gays” in our community”. She continued by saying that the Pastor said it was a serious problem that was even filtering down to our elementary schools. Amanda said she had really wanted to come but she had a lab that night. She also told me she had told her roommates about it and they couldn’t believe that our church was going to talk about “Gay people”. They wanted to know if we were going to try and oust them from our church and community! By the time Amanda finishes telling me all of this, I am laughing hysterically, tears are streaming down my face and I can hardly catch my breath. Amanda isn’t finding this very funny…until I tell her that the meeting was on “GANGS”, NOT gays! She begins to laugh as well and decides she needs to call her roommates and set the record straight!

After that, we began reminiscing about other faux pas we had committed. One of my most famous is when I mistakeningly wrote that our churches marriage retreat ants would be visiting the “Carolina Orgy” instead of the “Carolina Opry”. An honest mistake but one I haven’t lived down to this day!

Over Easter I heard Amanda telling my Sister as she was extolling the virtues of her new trash compactor, “They have outlawed those in Raleigh.” Allison, Amanda’s older sis, and I immediately said in unison, that’s garbage disposals! It was too funny.
Amanda has also informed me that Grandma’s preacher was getting a divorce and said Grandma told her so. So I pass the info along to other family members to later find out we are wrong and Grandma doesn’t know what Amanda was talking about!

Amanda says she inherited this “blonde gene” from me…reminding me of the time I am telling my best friend that we need to pray for this family. I tell her all about the mother who shot and killed her little boy during the night because she thought he was a burglar when in reality he was just sneaking in the living room to play with the ornaments on the Christmas tree. My friend is getting into the story with me and we are going to pray for this family when Amanda says…”Mom, that isn’t real…we saw that on E.R. last night.” We all get a good chuckle out of that as I turn beat red.

I guess it is in the genes!
Like Mother, like Daughter isn’t it wonderful!

I’m back! I took a little trip to Winston-Salem to Baptist Hospital for two wonderful days of test on this wacky digestive track of mine. The first day I arrive at the hospital at 7Am and am told that my doctor has been called away on a family emergency and would I like to reschedule or take the doctor on call? So, I, after having driven two and a half hours the night before and paid for a hotel, decide to go ahead with the procedure. I am then taken in the back and they attempt to put an IV in. I try to tell them that I’m a difficult stick but they always have to find out the hard way…by sticking me twice! Then the nurse comes in and says, “we actually made a mistake and the doctor we originally told you would be taking your doctors place is …well, he’s actually working on the more difficult cases today. So we have another doctor for you if that is ok.” So, I’m laying there thinking Ok…great, I’m the one with the most abnormal digestive track most doctors have ever seen and I’m getting the third string doctor. What’s a girl to do when you’re already laying there with an IV, heart monitor, and lovely hospital gown on? My last question I asked before they put the sleepy meds into my IV was, “does anyone know if this doctor is a Christian?”

I survived day one of the test and Lee returned me to the hotel to rest for the afternoon while he returned to work. The second shift, Amanda, my youngest, arrived that evening. We enjoyed some girl time then her boyfriend came and we went out to dinner. Friday was spent at the hospital where I ate radioactive eggs, had half my body slammed into the door threshold by an x-ray tech., drank some nasty contrast, had some dye injected into my veins through yet another IV…and YES it took two tries to find a vein, and had some injection while I was in the MRI machine. I’m not sure which tasted nastier, the tainted eggs or the contrast! We arrived at the hospital Friday at 9Am and left at 4:45PM. It was a very long day but hopefully, the test will reveal something that will allow the doctors to better treat my digestive maladies!

Upon leaving the hospital, we headed to the mall to meet Lee. Amanda and I went to “Guppies to Puppies” and held a little basset Hound, petted rabbits, and ooohed and aaawed, at all the little animals there. Lee and I finally arrived home at 9PM and were greeted by our precious puppy/dog Zoey. She was glad to have her Momma home and I was glad to crawl into my own bed!


Oh, I almost forgot, the quote of the day on Friday that made my day was when one of the hospital workers, an information desk worker, said to Amanda and I as we entered the hospital…AND I QUOTE “How nice, two lovely sisters coming to the hospital together!” I turned around and told the man I loved him!

So…I said yesterday, that I would share something that God had taught me about commitment from my daily exercise commitment with my friend. Last Friday, I got up at 4:30AM, as usual, fed the dog, brushed my teeth, did my stretching exercises and was ready to go. 5AM came, no friend, then 5:10, no friend, 5:20 came…no friend. I thought to myself, I’ve gotten up, prepared myself for this specific time that we have committed to each other and she doesn’t show up. I wasn’t angry just a little disappointed…a little let down. Then I felt God saying to me, “That’s how I feel when you don’t show up for our special time. You sure can get yourself up and be ready to meet your friend to exercise and you would hate to let her down…but you aren’t always that dedicated, devoted or committed to me!” I felt so ashamed because I knew I had let my Savior down…even though God didn’t speak to me in anger…just in a way I would understand. I’m so glad my friend overslept that morning for it gave me the opportunity to renew my commitment with my God to spend a “specific” or special time with Him each day…not to give Him what little time there might be left at the end of the day. I used to always meet with him first thing in the morning, before I started this exercise program, and I do again now! My time with my Lord must not be second to anything else in my life. I’m thankful that I heard God Speaking to me that morning. I hope you will listen to God’s voice…that you’ll set aside a specific time everyday for God…for He is waiting for you and has so many wonderful things to show you in His word!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
Guide you with Mine eye." Psalm 32:8

I
awoke this morning and realized I was in bed with an old man! A very scary experience I must say. It is my husbands 50th birthday. I knew that marrying an older guy would one day come back to haunt me but when you are high school Jr. and a College Soph. ask you out, well…how cool is that. I mean how many other high School girls were dating “college men”. So we dated and dated and finally married after my Soph. year of college.
This is definitely one of the blessings of being blind…I will always picture my husband as that very handsome Young man I last saw four and a half years ago with a lot more hair on his head and a lot less hair …well, never mind. Although he is getting older, he is also getting better! Happy 50th Birthday Lee!

Since I’ll be reaching the “old age” mark in a few years myself, I’ve been trying to get this body in shape. I get up at 4:30AM, let the dog out, feed her, do some stretching exercises and wait for my precious friend, Danielle, to pick me up at 5AM, yes, that is in the morning before the rooster’s crow! We take the short drive to her home, tiptoe up the stairs and thru her bedroom where her husband is asleep. Then we head for the inner sanctum which we access by passing through the bathroom and the walk in closet. Finally, we have arrived…the inner sanctum is where the work begins. We start with prayer because, if the truth be known, we really would rather be sleeping. So we ask God to give us the desire to get our bodies, His temples…in shape, so they will be pleasing in His sight and fit for His kingdom work. I can’t reveal too much about my experiences in the inner sanctum…it’s rather like Vegas…what happens in the inner sanctum, stays in the inner sanctum! But if you have a pressing prayer concern, let me know and I’ll carry it into the inner sanctum. You can pray for Danielle and me…because after almost four months, it’s still hard to get up and keep our exercise commitment. I’ll share a real lesson the Lord taught me about that tomorrow! Stay tuned…I’d hate to leave you wondering!

My first blog!

After three hours, I, with the help of Shelia (a computer tech with Services for the Blind), finally have my very own blog!
I don’t have all the bells and whistles but it’s all about words, right??
So…maybe you’re wondering about my chosen name…sightless wonders. Well, I’m sightless and I wonder about a lot of things But there are also so many wonderful things, feelings, emotions, sounds, etc…that you can experience without your sight…maybe even better without your sight. There is also one of my favorite verses from God’s word. 2 Cor. 4:18 “So then, we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.”
Why just the other day, I learned what Helen Keller’s favorite color was! Stumped? It’s CORDUROY! Isn’t that great! It sure has made me rethink my favorite color. It was orange when I was a child then I switched to burgundy as an adult but now I’m thinking…dotted Swiss or maybe seersucker.

I hope you’ll join me from time to time and share your “wonders” sightless or not. I’m sure we’ll have wonderful times as we wonder along together!

Question of the day: What is your favorite color or texture?