Growing up in the coastal South, blacks lived in pockets around town that centered in the city but stretched and weaved through suburbia. Driving through, you'd lock your doors. And God forbid your car break down when going through one of "those" neighborhoods. My grandmother had a woman named Annie Bell who helped her around the house. My grandmother died when I was four, but Annie Bell still came to help my Granddaddy Joe. Growing up, I remember my mom gathering our old clothes and … [Read more...] about By All Means Keep Moving
Impact through Christ
Hope for Your Weekend
With so much anguish in our world and our nation, let's celebrate some of the good things that are happening. Working Together to Reunite Syrian Refugee Families I'm a big fan of collaboration. As messy as it can be, I believe there is much to be gained with join together for a cause. And I love work that lifts up the value of family. And so when I saw this article, I knew I had to share it with you. Germany, Turkey, and Lebanon are Working Together to Reunite 36,000 Syrian Refugee … [Read more...] about Hope for Your Weekend
Out of Desperate Circumstances
Today I have a story to tell you about five sisters. Their situation was a bit different than my girls. Their father had died and we don't know anything about their mother. These sisters are alone. And they're alone in a man's world. The nation of Israel stood on the brink of the Jordan River. The Promised Land was so close they could smell it. Soldiers had been numbered by tribe and it was nearly time to go to war. And then God says, "When you win, the land shall be divided by … [Read more...] about Out of Desperate Circumstances
Who Does God Use?
He uses women just like you and me. He really does. Last week I participated in a Christian Leadership Alliance conference in Dallas, Texas. On the stage Kelly Minter sang her heart out. In the row in front of me, Kay Arthur sang along. And over the course of several days I heard messages from Rich Stearns, and Michael Oh, and so many others who are leading worldwide efforts to bring Christ to the nations. And I thought, "Who am I? Who am I that God would choose to use me?" And I … [Read more...] about Who Does God Use?
When You’ve Got Nothing
Do you know that God still delights to bring something from nothing? He did it in the beginning, and he's doing it today. If you feel like you've got nothing, today is for you. In Barranquilla, Columbia, you don't cross the tracks to find the most vulnerable children. You walk downhill. When the rains come to Columbia, they saturate the mountains. With the ground unable to swallow another drop, the water rushes downhill turning dirt paths into muddy streams, and streams into rushing … [Read more...] about When You’ve Got Nothing
6 Ways You Can Dare to Care
Two years ago today, 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haran. Fifty-seven escaped, but from the rest ... silence. The world stood in horror. The Church prayed. The First Lady got involved. And we all cried out "Bring back our girls!" And the mothers are still crying. With gaping holes in their hearts they wonder if their girls have been raped, sold, wrapped in explosives and used to bring terror and death to others. A proof-of-life video has surfaced showing 15 of the girls. Two … [Read more...] about 6 Ways You Can Dare to Care