I visited my 100 year old dad last week before making my trek to Mustang, OK, to voice my newest book - Laughing with the Lord -  for audio. I try to keep him abreast of my comings and goings so he will know why I might miss a few days visiting him in his home at an assisted living facility. 

It falls my lot to start conversations and keep them going, because he just doesn't think of much to say.

"Pop, I'll be gone for a few days."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Steve and I will be traveling to Oklahoma for me to record my new book for audio."

He looked up a bit astonished and replied, "That's a mighty far piece, isn't it?"

"Yes, it will be a long drive."  He asked more about what an audio book is, and I tried to explain.

Being the pragmatist he is, he asked in his most serious tone, "Is that completely necessary?"

I awoke this morning to beautiful sunshine.  How refreshing after the storms of the night and the tornadoes which ravaged our area just a week ago.  I think the Lord gives us many messages through nature.  This one seems to say, "I will not keep my children OUT of the storms, but I will be with them THROUGH them.

I resolve to praise HIM in both the good times and the bad because he has a purpose in both.  Besides, if I don't praise HIM, the rocks will do it.  Praise be to HIS holy name.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19: 37 - 40

Commit to the Lord What You Do

Collinsville Christian Ladies’ Retreat 

For some time now, I’ve been extolling the promise in Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  One must be careful when instructing others to follow this verse.  God will test you; I know He did me.

Recently, I received a call inquiring about my availability to speak at a ladies’ retreat.  The dreaded and seemingly  inappropriate question came.  “Do you charge anything for speaking?”

Put off by this, I answered without much enthusiasm, “I usually receive a nice honorarium or at least a love offering.  You know I do have expenses.”

Not to be deterred this bold lady continued, “In faith we put on this retreat for the ladies in our community and the surrounding ones every year.  We bring them in, give them a day of inspiration and prayer, and feed them a catered lunch.  Since we don’t charge them, we don’t pay the speaker or musicians.  I thought you might donate your time.”

Then God gave me that holy nudge, Commit to the LORD whatever you do... I said, “I’ll come.”

 Speaking to four sessions of the Pastors/Deacons/Spouses Retreat at Shocco Springs brought many delights, as well as a few surprises.  I love these occasions because I meet so many wonderful servants of God, and they are eager to have some stress relief in form of laughter.

When I was asked to lead these sessions, I was told I would primarily be speaking to the spouses because other sessions - some planned just for the men - would be going on at the same time.  I prepared accordingly.  To my surprise, I had as many men as I did women in each session.  They wanted a reprieve from the more serious meetings also.  I spoke on Laugh often, Love much, and Live well on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, and on Show Me Your Glory on Sat., Sept. 26, 2009.

These people were eager to laugh; therefore, they provided the ideal audience.  As an icebreaker and a getting-to-know-you activity, I asked participants to pair up with someone they didn't know and quickly tell each other something funny that had happened in church.  Before the session ended, they wrote their own anecdotes for me to use at some future time.  What a hoot they were!

I am constantly reminded that God works through humor.  He wants his children to have cheerful hearts.  We all left refreshed and renewed.

Although the elements were stormy outside, many senior adults were warmly greeted inside FBC Russellville with a beautiful Senior Aprreciation luncheon.  Bert Fowler, pastor to senior adults, and his wife Carole covered every detail to make this a spectacular event.  The meal was fabulous and was served by the youth from this great church.  Many attending went home with door prizes; some even won the spring flower bouquets which adorned each table.

As I spoke on "Joy in the Journey," I realized, from the pleasant smiles on the faces, these people knew  this joy of which I spoke; they are carriers of it.  Although I drove through torential rains on my way home, I too, returned home with a smile as I recalled the funny anecdotes some of these seniors shared with me.

As I've said in other places, I try to follow Proverbs 3:16 in both my professional and personal life.  Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.  Following such a noble intent would surely protect me from problems, right? So wrong! Recession, illnesses, flight delays - all affect everyone; Not even I am exempt.

Just as the rest of the world is being affected by financial woes and economic down turns, so are we who work for the Lord.  With my schedule near full, I twittered about, thinking all was well in my world - that is until calls started coming in with the message, "With the economy being such as it is, I'm afraid we are having to cancel our event."  Well, maybe two calls anyway.  I merely resolved to do the best I could with the events that were still scheduled.  Surely the Lord wanted me to bring Christian humor to this dismal world.

As I prepared for the Feb. 7th event - a Valentine banquet in Tuscaloosa for the Emanuel Baptist Church, that familiar tickle in the throat began.  Then the coughing set in.  Not to be deterred, my husband and I planned to put on our Valentine attire and celebrate the holiday with others attending the banquet.  Then the event planner called. "I did tell you the event will be held in a barn and the dress is dressy denim, didn't I?"  Having some reservations about speaking in a barn and waning in my confidence about what dressy denim is, we began our journey with plenty of cough syrup in my system.  We were pleasantly surprised to find the barn nothing short of elegant.  No animal had ever set foot in it; it had been built just for such events as this one.  Although interrupted a few times with coughing spasms, I, with the Lord's help, was able to bring inspiration and laughter to the occasion.

On to Illness - Prattville FBC Event at Shocco Springs

Surely a little cough was all that would beset my spring events - wrong again.  For months I had anticipated being the keynote speaker for the "Women's Winter Retreat" for FBC Prattville.  I spent more that a few hours preparing for the given theme - "Show Me Your Glory."  A main thought that permeated  my preperations and sessions was "It's not about me or us; it's about Him."  Well darling, that was put to the test.  The night before the big event, the worst virus of my life attacked; vomitting and diarrhea were my constant companions.  Now how can you not think about ME instead of HIM in a state such as that?

Not to be deterred, I pulled myself out of bed knowing I had to get better (I couldn't get worse, it seemed), and after three tries, I finally showered and dressed.  My sweet husband doubted I was in condition to speak, but seeing my determination, he drove me to Talladega to Shocco Springs, unloaded my "stuff" and prayed for me.  I prayed too.  "Lord, if you want me to do this, you are going to have to  do a miracle, put strength in my spaghetti knees, and help the Emetrol and Imodium to do their job."  He answered that prayer and His joy prevailed.

Planes and Problems Cause Me to Cancel an Event

Realizing my schedule was tight, I sent ahead my books and warned the event planner for the WINGS Candlelight Dinner at Brasher's Chapel Church that if I were to be late for the meal, I would definitely be there in time to speak.  But you know what the say about the best laid plans of mice and men ---.

Seated on the plane in Columbia, Missouri, I relaxed believing I was going to make the event with time to spare.  Then the pilot announced, "We have a problem with one of the engines.  I am not comfortable taking off until a trained mechanic flies in to check it out."  If he wasn't comfortable with it, I surely wasn't.  After an hour or so and still no mechanic at work, I realized I would miss my connection, therefore, ending my chances of making the event at all.  I did what I could; I called a fellow speaker and asked her to substitute for me.  Apparently God wanted her message presented instead of my humor.

In spite of maladies which can beset us all, I have a peace.  When I truly give myself and all I do to the Lord, I am confident all will work for His good.  It has and it still does.