A Saintly Example

Today is my mother's birthday. I am grateful for the inspiration she is and will always be to me. From her, I learned to be a good mother to my children. I learned to be a good wife and helpmate by watching the way she loved her husband.

I learned to forgive quickly because of her example. I learned to look to Christ for my purpose and worth because of her love and devotion to Him. I learned that God always creates beauty out of broken lives by watching how she lives her life so eloquently and intentionally. 

I learned to dance and laugh and sing in all circumstances by watching her. I learned about God's amazing grace by being around her. By her example, I learned that being a follower of Jesus means helping the poor by actually getting close to them and getting to know them. I learned how to be accepting of everyone, how to love unconditionally, and how to give sacrificially because of the way she lives daily.

I learned from her how to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not just talk about it. I learned how to show grace and kindness to all people no matter how they treat me. And I'm still learning to be generous and gracious in everything I say and do by watching her.

Happy birthday to the best mother and saintly example a person could have.

I love you, Mama, with all my heart!

Where's the Grace?

In August of 2001, as I was watching the Tour de France, Jan Ullrich, a talented German cyclist tumbled down an embankment while descending the Peyresourde. The fall cost him a noticeable amount of time in the race. Lance Armstrong held back from taking advantage of Ullrich. He waited until his closest competitor caught back up with him. Maybe some would see that as the politically correct choice for Armstrong. But I saw it as a sign that Lance is a man of character. He showed honor to his rival.

I have always tried to avoid writing about anything controversial. I've been a fairly timid person for most of my life. But after reaching my forties, I have surprised myself by the boldness that often rises up in me when I am standing up for what is right.

I pray that I don't ever stir up a hornet's nest by anything I write. But I feel that it's necessary for me to speak up about things that are unjust.

This week I've asked myself more than once, "Where is the grace?"

My reason for asking this question has to do with the unkind comments I have read that were aimed toward Lance Armstrong after he made the decision to withdraw from the fight against the USADA, the organization that has been accusing Lance of using enhancement drugs during his years of competing in cycling events.

In a perfect world, there would be nothing but love and encouragement offered to a person who was undergoing accusations that could possibly be false. Many people seem to believe that Lance is guilty of the accusations without the proper evidence. My belief system causes me to assume someone is innocent until proven guilty.

As a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, my goal is to love others the way that I want to be loved. The second greatest commandment—we all know—is "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Let's just suppose Lance is guilty of lying and cheating in the cycling events. I personally believe he is innocent. But hypothetically speaking, if he were to be found guilty, I would remain supportive toward him. He has proven himself to be the kind of man that wants to do good for this world. He has tirelessly given of his time for the cancer community. And the fact that he may not have the same beliefs as I do about Christ does not change my attitude toward him. Actually, my relationship with Christ is what allows me to have love and to have compassion toward all men regardless of their beliefs or what they may have done.

Earlier this week, my daughter showed me a video with the story of families in Rwanda who have proven it's possible to love and forgive the ones who have committed the most despicable crimes. In the video, the story of the genocide that took place in the nineties is recounted. It's a beautiful story of redemption as they share how some of the murderers have asked for forgiveness. Amazingly, the victims graciously forgave the ones who killed their husbands, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons. Jesus died so that we could all live a life of reconciliation. The story in the video is a powerful example for all of us.

If a woman can forgive the man who murdered her entire family, then certainly we all can forgive the high profile people who may have done something wrong.

It's possible through Christ, to live with a heart filled with compassion and a perfect love toward one another.

When we are all gone from this earth, what do we want to be remembered by? Do we want to be remembered by the critical things we said about others or the judgments we made about them?

When I'm gone from here, I want to be remembered for the love I showed to my fellow man. I want my life to be defined by the grace that saved me. I want to always be an encourager and one that makes people feel deeply loved and appreciated. I want to always see the best in everyone.

The controversy this week surrounding the USADA and Lance Armstrong has caused me to look closer at my own heart. And more than ever, I want to live a life that is defined by grace.

And the second is this:  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. ~ Mark 12:31 (NIV)

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Only Forgiveness Can Win from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee on Vimeo.

Amazing Grace

 

Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I was driving away from my mother’s house. My heart was deeply touched when the realization hit me that my mother lives in the ghetto. But the difference between my mother, and others that live in the ghetto, is that she lives there by choice. She had previously lived in an upscale home in a prestigious community until she heard the voice of the Lord nudging her to move to the small town of Hogansville, Georgia to plant a mission church with her husband. About 12 years ago, she followed Christ's leading, sold her home, left upper middle class suburbia, and moved to a tiny house in a mill village that was built around the turn of the 19^th century.

I clearly remember the first time I saw the neighborhood. I had never seen anything quite like it, and neither had some of my other family members. My brother’s humor lightened our shocked state the first time we visited the new place that my mom called "home." He said, “This reminds me of Archie Bunker’s neighborhood.” We had a good laugh, but the truth of the matter is Archie Bunker’s neighborhood (in the 1970’s sitcom) was much nicer. During one of our first visits there, my daughter asked me, "Why are there dishwashers and furniture in some of the yards of this neighborhood?" As inquisitive as we were, I knew in my heart, this was where God had called my mother to live.

Seeing the elegantly dressed, middle class woman in an impoverished area may have seemed odd to some people. But for me, as her daughter, I could see that the place she had chosen to move to, fit perfectly with her Christ-like heart. She had found her mission field right here in America , in a community filled with people in great need of God’s grace and love. This is what defines my mother: her gift for sharing Christ’s mercy with the poor in spirit and brokenhearted.

I could fill a book with many examples of how I have seen Christ’s light shine through my mother, but there is one that has impacted my life the most. Shortly after my 13^th birthday, my father told me that he didn't love my mother anymore and he was leaving. I have the memory etched in my mind of my mother sitting at the table weeping as she read her Bible. She had just heard my father’s words of rejection. Her college sweetheart, whom she was married to for 17 years, was divorcing her, piercing her heart. Shortly after the divorce, my father remarried another woman. My heart was crushed, so I can only imagine the depth of pain my mother was experiencing. Yet in the midst of her grieving, she continued to exemplify the amazing grace of God.

My mother never spoke any unkind words about my father, and she lived out what it means to forgive the way our heavenly Father forgives. Her loving attitude revealed the heart of Christ. She told me that we needed to pray for my father. We began praying that he would surrender his life to Jesus. She continually showed love and kindness to my father and his new wife. My mother’s life was building tremendous faith in my teenage heart as I watched her faithfulness. In the midst of my broken life, I saw a miracle come forth. A little over four years later, my father radically surrendered his heart to Christ. At seventeen years old, it was a blessing to have spiritual eyes to see that the merciful love of Christ displayed through my mother had drawn my father to the Lord.

Over a decade later, while my mother was recovering from cancer, my father shared with me the true impact my mother’s love and forgiveness had made on his life. What I had discerned in my spirit, my father’s words confirmed. He began telling me that the most significant factor leading him to a fulfilled life in Christ was experiencing the unconditional, Christ-like love of my mother. It was beautiful, hearing with my ears what I had known in my heart for many years.

The Lord honored my mother by bringing her a wonderful, Christian man to marry several years after my father remarried. My mother’s life is a beautiful picture of how the Lord is able to take a devastating situation and use it for good (Romans 8:28). But most of all, her life is a true example of Christ’s mercy and kindness. The Lord had a good plan when He placed her in a neighborhood where there is poverty, drug addiction, and homeless people. These people are the ones that need to see grace the most.

I have often shared stories about the grace I've seen in my mother and I've told friends that the perfect name for her would be, "Grace." I even wrote a poem about the grace displayed in her life and titled it, "Her Name Should be Grace." I had never asked my mom the meaning of her name. But on the day I presented her with the special poem, she looked at me with joy, and said, "That’s what my name means: GRACE."

I love you, Mama! Thank you for being the living example of Christ's love. You will have an abundance of crowns in heaven. Happy 71st birthday!

Eternally grateful,

Amy

This was originally written in 2008. Today, I have revised it in honor of my mother's birthday.

Extravagant Grace

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word, "grace"? The word evokes many thoughts in my heart. But the very first thought that grace brings to my mind is the God who created the world.

He is grace. The scriptures tell us who He is:

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy " Psalm 103:8 (KJV)

"And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness and relenting of evil." Joel 2:13 (NAS)

I consider myself to be gracious and compassionate in the way I think and act. It's evident in the way people freely confess their sins to me. I have had a number of women share their secrets with me about their struggles to remain faithful in their marriages. I've learned a great deal about grace through the confessions of these ladies.

Once a woman confessed to me that she was considering leaving her family for another man. I remember weeping as I prayed and asked the Lord, "What should I say to this woman?" I knew it was very critical to speak the truth in love. In these types of situations it is so important to display the heart of God to those who don't truly know Him. Many times we can blurt out the first thing that pops into our heads such as, Oh my goodness, are you crazy? But I sought the Lord for the words to say to the one tempted to leave her family, and He gave me the perfect words filled with His grace.

Many are confused about grace. Grace is not an excuse for being disobedient—it is a reason to be completely obedient to God. His abounding grace should be what causes us to want to obey Him perfectly.

A child is much more apt to listen to a loving, gracious parent, than to one who screams at them in anger and rage. A child wants to please the loving parent. It's the same way with the Lord. I obey His commands because I know how very much He loves me and I don't want to do anything to disturb the closeness I have with Him. In God's word, He shows us that our sin separates us from Him.

"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." Isaiah 59:2 (NASB)

I don't want to be away from Him for even one minute, let alone one hour or a week or a month. He has become everything to me. It's His amazing grace that draws me to Himself.

I would rather have my head served on a platter than do anything that would spoil my fellowship with Jesus.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for me and for all believers to walk in unity with the Lord. My desire is for myself and others to be one with Him and share His grace with all those we come in contact with.

The day I talked with the woman about her temptation to leave her family, my words penetrated her heart. She heard through my voice how deeply God loved her, and that He didn't want her to mess up her life. There would be consequences for her wrong choices.

I exhaled a breath that felt big enough to knock over a large building when she told me she had chosen to stay in her marriage and make things work with her husband. Many years later, they are happily married. I believe it was the grace of God displayed through my life that helped her make the right choice.

God’s love is abounding. Until the 2^nd coming of Christ may we—His followers—continually display His extravagant grace.