|
I am glad that September is over! In the heaviness, there have been many life lessons ... and many days of grace.
As summer fades and fall emerges, the cooler temps arrive. Leaves are changing color, just before falling to the ground. And we're reminded that life is always changing. Nothing stays the same. Well-known pastors continue to bring reproach to the name of Christ by the heretical words they speak or by the hypocritical lives they live. And people's lives are changed. Their foundations shaken, cracked, and crumbled. Careers change ... from cleaning to caregiving ... While most have supported this very personal -and needed- change, others have met me with cold-hearted cruelty. While I wasn't entirely surprised -because red flags have been present throughout the years- the depth of cruelty was shocking, and the relationship is no more. Needless controversies within churches plague the landscape of the western church, and people walk away ... not realizing that we don't have to agree on every single thing ... pastors are discouraged. Members are grieved ... and the Body of Christ suffers. We'd do well to learn from the Church in other parts of the world!!! Natural disasters ... Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. Life forever changes. Landscapes are altered, infrastructure is destroyed, and lives are lost. And nothing is the same. A new normal must be built, quite literally, from the ground up. An unfavorable medical report. Alzheimer's, cancer, dementia, a stroke, PTSD. It happens every single day. And lives are changed. In desperation, one storms the halls of Heaven. Begging for a miracle, and the Healer of Heaven is seemingly quiet. And life is forever altered. The summary of September is simple. CHANGE HAPPENS. Sometimes, the changes happen slowly. Other times, it happens so suddenly that you can barely breathe. How do we find stability? How do we SUCCESSFULLY live in the midst of that which is so unstable? By learning to rest ... in the One who is the Anchor for our souls. The Rock who never shakes, never breaks. Living one day, one moment, at a time. By preaching the Gospel to ourselves. Reminding our souls of the truths that are never changing. Truths like: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, & forevermore. We aren't promised tomorrow. The trials of this life are for our sanctification ... for our good & for His glory, no matter the outcome. Jesus is still good, kind, and faithful. What about people who don't have a relationship with Jesus? Honestly, I have no idea how they face this life without Him!! Jesus alone is LIFE'S ONE CONSTANT. Life's ONLY constant. No matter what the last three months of 2024 hold, I pray you and I are wholly tethered to Jesus alone. And may He alone receive all the glory and honor that is due to His great name! Soli Deo Gloria!  Three years ago, I got a front-row seat to a modern-day miracle.
August 11th had always been memorable because it’s Aunt Polly’s birthday … and it was the day in 2000 when I had a large benign tumor removed. But August 11, 2021 … was a day unlike any other August 11 before or since. I got to see Dad that day … and he was different. Dad was repentant and dying. He was trapped in a broken body with a mind that was plagued by his past. I watched God completely break Dad. It took 6 years of his complicated ongoing medical issues to break him, but God broke this once-monster of a man … in order to make him new. In the breaking of James Roderick Dickson, my father, God made him a masterpiece for His glory! And although I long to see his face again on this earth ... to talk about Jesus, to talk about music and photography and life today ... and while there is grief, it is mixed with joy and peace because Dad is with Jesus. Healthy, whole, restored. On August 11, 2021, a hellatious past was forgiven … and in the heartache of knowing these were our final weeks, there was amazing grace! Grace to endure. To love. To forgive. And to protect him … his life … and his story. In the eyes of most, Dad had little to no value because of the choices he made throughout his life. But to the One who ordained his very days … to the One who created him, Dad had the same intrinsic value as faith heroes like Polycarp, Augustine, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, Elisabeth Elliot, and Billy Graham. HOW DO I SAY THAT WITH CONFIDENCE? Because the same God who made these faith heroes is the same God who made my father. The same God who created these faith heroes in His image also made my father in His image … Jesus died for Dad … just as He did for you and for me 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” And as the LORD did what only He could do in Dad’s life, I was given the best gift I could ask for … although I only had this transformed Dad for 3 months & 3 days, I am eternally thankful for the promise of Heaven … the place with no goodbyes. I can say that I am thankful for a journey that threw me at the feet of Jesus every step of the way. While I wouldn’t wish my journey on another human being – friend or foe – I am thankful that the LORD is sovereign & is using the tragedy of trauma for the good of me, my father, & others … and He is using it for His eternal glory! Some have tried to silence me in telling our story, but I will continue to share it. Until I am with my father again … at the feet of OUR Jesus, I will share it. Whether it’s through our book, An Ugly Kind of Beautiful, or through a speaking engagement or a one-on-one conversation, may Jesus alone receive the greatest honor and glory! FOR HE ALONE IS WORTHY! SDG! There’s no denying that this life … it’s just incredibly hard, at times. Diseases like dementia, Alzheimer's, cancer, and a whole bunch more plague our mortal bodies. Despair robs us of any sense of peace, rest, and joy. Death comes … and loved ones are left with a void so deep that mere time doesn’t heal. Add to that the financial hardships, the mental/emotional turmoil, the state of the economy, and the spiritual struggles we face … yes! Life is hard.
That’s not the end of the story, though! Not for the Christian! For us who know Jesus in a personal relationship, there’s supernatural grace to rest … come what may. And I came here to talk to you about it today. We finished up ~uh, I think, we finished~ the book of 1 Thessalonians in Sunday School today. And in a way that can only be described as a “God-thing,” it tied in beautifully with this morning’s sermon … taken from Romans 8:28-30. In both passages (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 and Romans 8:28-30), the Apostle Paul reveals that the sufferings of this life aren’t in vain. That there is a purpose … and he, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gently shifts our gaze. From this life to the one that is to come. A life that will have no sorrow, sickness, pain or death. What is that purpose? To conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Um, okay. I know some are saying it because I've said it ... and I'm known for saying out loud what others think but don't say ... so let me say it here: That’s all well and good … but … what about TODAY?! As one of my best friends grieves the recent loss of her brother. As friends -who are my family, both of whom I completely adore- are facing major health challenges. As unspoken goodbyes bring an end to one’s hope of restoration. As the Christian fights with all they have every single day to stay mentally well. And so much more. What about today?! How can we -as Christians- rest? How can we know with absolute certainty that what God says, what He has promised, will happen? Friend, we can rest -even in our todays, however hard they may be- because we have a sovereign God! We can rest in His character! And because He is TOTALLY sovereign, we can rest in His Word, His promises … We can rest IN HIM. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 tells us plainly that the LORD will bring His Word to pass. So, if we can rest in Him with that which is eternal, I dare say that we can rest in Him with whatever we are facing in this life. Through the grief. Through the uncertainty, fear, anxiety, loss, instability. We can trust Him. And we can learn to rest. Because He’s given us grace to rest. Romans 8:28-30 is a beautifully rich text. We can rest in the LORD because we know His sovereign work is for our good. “Know” in this passage -and all throughout the Sacred Script of God- isn’t just about mere head knowledge and facts. It’s so much deeper. It involves a deep understanding … a humble confidence … and trust. And it’s foundational to the Christian faith. The word “work” in verse 28 is in the aorist tense. That just means it’s an ongoing action. And THAT should, I pray, bring us hope … and a peace that paves the way for us to rest. Because the LORD is continually working on behalf of His children, we can rest in knowing that God doesn’t waste anything. The good. The bad. The ugly. He causes ALL of it to work together for our good and for His glory. Our life details are held in His nail-scarred hands. And are the means by which He sanctifies us … and according to Philippians 1:6, He will see it to completion. As we travel this path, called life, headed to the Celestial City (Heaven), may we do as Pilgrim did in Pilgrim’s Progress … may we press on. Knowing that He who has promised is faithful! May we rest in the One who holds our future in His hands (quite literally … our future bears the shape of nail scars). I need to give 2 disclaimers: (1) The 2 passages today are conditional … I know, I may get a lot of backlash for this & that’s okay … but these passages are NOT universal promises. A simple reading of the text indicates this. These promises are for those who have acknowledged Jesus as LORD & Savior of their lives. So, if you know Jesus personally, these promises are for you. However, if you don’t know Jesus personally, they aren’t for you … not yet, anyway. But I’d love to talk to you about Jesus. Leave me a comment here (it is closely moderated) or email me (with JESUS in the subject line) at [email protected] if you’d like to know more about Jesus. (2) Romans 8:28-30 often causes division among believers due to what’s known as the Doctrines of Grace … I do NOT have any answers as far as what verses 29-30 mean exactly when it comes to God’s sovereignty in salvation. I don’t want to be on one side or the other, honestly. Leaving room for mystery and unanswered questions is okay for me. What I DO know, beyond a shadow of a doubt is that: JESUS paid it all All to HIM I owe Sin had left a crimson stain HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW! And because of Jesus … we have GRACE TO REST … COME WHAT MAY! To the glory of God alone. Soli Deo Gloria!  I recently heard a sermon from Psalm 103 … The blog post “BLESS THE LORD” highlights that sermon.
Today … July 15, 2024, two days out from tragic events that rocked this nation, those truths echo within the chambers of my heart. July 13, 2024. Events so tragic, it seems I can hardly breathe as I read & re-read the news stories. Our nation is in great peril, and my soul … it’s just sad. And horrified. I’m a small-town author with a great big God … and only He can provide the TRUE HOPE we need as a nation. And the prayer of my heart is to bring you His truth, His hope ... in the wake of tragedy. I didn’t learn of the assassination attempt until Sunday … and one of the first questions in my mind was this … How have we -as a supposed Christian nation- gotten HERE? Crimes are overlooked. Dangerous criminals are roaming the streets … (Memphis, TN,- a city just north of where I live- just ranked the 9th most dangerous city in the WORLD.) And people are seeking to murder a man running for president. WHY?! As I sat in my chair, the one word the LORD brought to my mind was … EVIL! The events of Saturday, July 13, 2024, were simply EVIL. So … what now? Where do we turn our eyes? NOT on an idealized, “savior” version of Donald Trump … that’s nothing short of blasphemous idolatry! And it’s disgusting! Isaiah 45:5A says plainly, “I am the LORD, and there is no other …” So, can we PLEASE STOP comparing Trump to Jesus!??!!! Jesus is incomparable! We turn our face to the One who reigns forevermore. We sit at HIS nail-scarred feet, listen to HIS voice … and catch our breath IN HIS PRESENCE. It’s in times like these where we MUST actively choose to remember! And say, through tears and shock and grief, “BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!” ... just as the psalmist, David, did! Following tragic events, our nation cries out: “God! We need You! Help! Heal our land!” … churches tend to have more in attendance & pleas for justice pour forth … and yet, somehow, the halls of Heaven seem silent. Prayers simply echo within the portals of Heaven. And there seems to be only silence … which causes greater levels of fear, heartache, grief, and uncertainty. But I’m here to tell you, Friend, that Heaven isn’t silent! Not on this issue or any other issue we take before God. I fear that we -as a nation- have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to what God has said. We quote it … from pulpits and in conversation. We post it on our social media platforms … but, I dare say, we aren’t applying His Word. And the High King of Heaven and earth will not be mocked. What are we missing? 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” {emphasis added} Are we doing this? From all indication, the answer is NO. We are missing genuine repentance among God’s people. While our daily lives may not look exactly like the lives of those who don’t know Jesus (although, a lot of times they do look exactly like the lives of those who don’t know Jesus), are we gossiping and slandering? Lying? Endorsing what God forbids while remaining silent on those issues He says to speak out against (think false teachers/unqualified leadership/abuse, etc)? Are we being a voice for the voiceless? Fulfilling the Great Commission? Standing for truth, even if we are alone? The events of this past Saturday are beyond tragic! Stories, that make my skin crawl, are still emerging. And there are no words in the English language to describe some of these stories. My heart breaks for the family of Corey Comperatore, the other two victims’ and their families, for President Trump and his family, for the gunman’s family. For the rally attenders. My heart breaks for America. I know Jesus well enough to know that His heart is broken and grieved … over Saturday’s events and over the state of the United States of America. Because … simply put, that’s just the kind of LORD that He is. Psalm 103:8-12 (written to God’s people) says, “The LORD is compassionate & gracious, slow to anger & abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us; nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Can YOU say with the psalmist, David, “Bless the LORD, O my soul”? … no matter the circumstances … Are you looking to Jesus or to a mere mortal in Washington DC (or anything/anyone else) for your hope, security, and peace? My prayer is that July 13, 2024, would be a pivotal point for our nation … that we -who bear the name ‘Christian’- will repent of our wicked ways (both personal sins & national sins), seek the LORD with a humble heart, and pray! For each other, for our leadership (including -especially- those we don’t agree with rather than saying/posting derogatory things about them), for those we encounter on the highways and byways of life … and may we, after the LORD has changed us, wait expectantly for the LORD to heal our land. SOLI DEO GLORIA! For the glory of God alone! I am reminded that there are no coincidences in life … That random text message that says “I’m praying for you” … A car license plate with a Scripture reference that you needed to see. The reunion of childhood friends. The reunion of a former teacher and student. Relationships forged through the fires of this life. Songs played at the right moment. Or a sermon that is JUST what your soul needed …
Make no mistake, Dear Friend, there are no coincidences in this life. These events are filtered through the Father’s hands. The One who works ALL things together for the good of His people for His eternal glory. Today was that kind of day … and make no mistake about it, often times, the sermons line up with what I need ... Due to some personal struggles, today ... well, it was just so very needed! How often I forget! I needed today, and I have an inclination that I’m not the only one, so I wanted to share quite a bit of today’s message with you. The passage of Scripture for today’s sermon was Psalm 103. (To read it, click on the passage and it will take you to a new page.) How are we to reflect and respond to what God has done in our lives? How are we to reflect and respond to that which He has so graciously taught us? We are to do what the psalmist did in Psalm 103. We are to BLESS THE LORD! To bless the LORD … to praise Him … We MUST remember!!! In verses 2-9, we are told to “forget not His benefits” … REMEMBER! Yes, there are benefits to loving/following/serving Jesus. What are some of those benefits?
In verses 10-13, we are reminded to “forget not your justification and adoption” …
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! In verses 14-19, we are reminded to “forget not who God is … who we are”. We have to remember our King! The only true Sovereign who is eternally reigning on high. Through tumultuous political seasons, traumatic medical issues, loss, grief, heartache of any kind, and so much more. We must remember our King! And as we remember Him and His love for us, we are to remember to obey! Not from a sense of duty but from a heart of love and great gratitude. BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! The psalmist ends the psalm how he started it … BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! May you and I remember! May we forget not! And may we -no matter the trials we WILL face in this life- praise the One who has a plan and a purpose. May we never neglect to say BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!  To be a writer, one must simply write.
Good. Bad. Biased or not. It doesn’t matter. One simply puts pen to paper to be a writer. My writing journey began when I was in the 6th grade. While there have been extended seasons when I didn’t write anything, for whatever reason, I’m ALWAYS called back to it. There’s something about arranging 26 simple letters in such a way that you impact someone’s life … even if it’s just your own life. After my recent book signing with An Ugly Kind of Beautiful, ideas for new projects seemed to blossom. Currently, I have 2 projects that have been started … and one that is in the planning stages. After receiving feedback from a few of my readers, I decided to create a brand for my writing. What goes into a brand? What exactly is a brand? A brand is simple and specific. Using colors, fonts, and a few design elements, one can artistically share their specific message … their purpose … their mission. I believe that this “gift” of writing is from the LORD … so the purpose behind what I write, why I write, and to whom I write all played a major role in the actual branding. THE WHAT. The purpose behind my desire to write is quite simple. Our words matter. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Word. He created language. He is the Originator of words … words are powerful. They can either speak life or death, hope or despair. I long to speak life and hope over people. No matter our individual background stories, our ability levels, our socioeconomic status … or whatever … we are ALL in the same position before a holy God … and He is able to transform any life. No matter the topic … No matter the genre. The ultimate goal/purpose is the same. To point my readers to Jesus, the One who is hope and life … and to do it in such a way that isn’t self-righteous or arrogant. THE WHO. My audience was chosen by the LORD Himself when He commanded His followers to go into all the world. Simply put, my audience is whoever reads what I write. THE WHY. Darkness is real. Despair and depression are real. I fight these battles … almost daily. I write to let people know that they aren’t alone. Jesus has set/is setting me free, and I long to share His freedom with as many people as I possibly can. THE BRAND … Our design is simple … Wait! OUR? Yes! Our! Because we are communal creatures … and I didn’t create this brand design alone.
Soli Deo Gloria!  HAPPY * FATHER'S * DAY ...
an open letter from a daughter to her Dad Dear Dad: This Father's Day (6/16/24) is different. It's my 3rd one without you ... and I can, finally, say that while there's still grief in missing you, there's peace. Jesus continues to lead the way to complete healing ... Knowing that you are with Jesus -healthy, whole, and redeemed- makes days like today a day of grace, peace, and even joy. Jesus continues to be faithful. There have been moments in life that I wish I could share with you. Photography. Traveling. Speaking a couple of times. A book signing. I promised you that I'd be okay as you prepared to be with Jesus ... and today, I can tell you that I'm okay ... because of Jesus. While I don't understand why Jesus didn't give me more time with the redeemed you, I'm thankful for the time that I did have with you. I'm thankful for your redemption. Your restoration. Your eternal healing. I am thankful that I was allowed to be a part of your story. It was a bittersweet privilege. Until I am reunited with you at the feet of Jesus, Dad, I will tell the story of God's love, grace, forgiveness, and restoration in our lives. I'll tell our story ... An Ugly Kind of Beautiful story. I'll see you later, Dad. I'll always love you! It's taken a lot to get me here ... to see the breaking of last year as a gift, but indeed, it was a gift. Being completely free from the environment in which I broke, effective May 25th, there are no words to describe what it's like. The fears that continued to have a hold on my heart every week were intense, at times.
And the Lord saw fit to release me. One year later, I see that in the darkness of the unknown, the Truth held strong ... and although I couldn't see what was ahead, I was seen by the One who holds all my tomorrows in His hands. These last few weeks have been surreal as I've thought a lot about last May. The mental breakdown. The breaking of relationships. The breaking of, what felt to be, a less-than-solid foundation. The breaking away from man-made religiosity cleverly -not so cleverly- disguised as Christianity. In the breaking, I can say that it's been in the brokenness that a choice had to be made. Keep running away, into greater darkness. Or run into His rest ... leaning in to the Rock of Ages, the One who never shakes, never breaks. With my inner circle around me, we faced the darkness of a mental breakdown together ... And Truth stood firm ... when all else seemed unsteady ... and it is STILL standing today. Why? because life isn't about my truth or your truth. Life is about THE Truth ... and His name is Jesus. Learning to live completely dependent in His truth isn't easy when there seems to be much to heal, and the "remedies" offered are numerous. But if I've learned anything over the last year, I've learned/am learning ... ~ standing for Truth is costly, but Jesus is worth it! ~ in the blackest darkness, Jesus' Light shines brightest ... through those who are TRULY His and who are seeking to follow Him and through His Word. ~ Jesus will protect and defend His own, especially when they are vulnerable! ~ the foundation of my life will never be destroyed because I belong to the Father ... however, there are parts of my belief system that have been/are faulty ... and the Father is NOT willing for any of His children to live their lives believing lies. He will stop at nothing to set His children free. [and I might add that He does so gently] ~ Jesus has a place for His people. A place to serve. To love. To grow. To be sanctified. Yes. Mental breakdowns happen. It's the sad reality of this life that's been tainted with sin. BUT Jesus is Lord over ANY mental breakdown because ... as someone once said ... He's either Lord of all or He's not Lord at all. In the breaking, there's a gift. From One who only gives good gifts to His children ... and for the child of God, I am convinced from personal experience that the gift in the breaking is Jesus Himself. |
