Pat's View: Inspirational Stories

I really want to know... "How is your race going?" It's so important to me that I struggled over this post for two days. While you think about your answer...and will you please share it with us in the comment section below. Will you take a walk with me? Washington D.C. is one of my favorite places to walk...especially for a prayer walk. The Thomas Jefferson building, one of the four Library of Congress buildings is my absolute favorite building. Then my 2nd favorite is the Capitol Building. The architecture of the Capitol is breath-taking. Housed inside the Capitol building is the National Statuary Hall Collection. It is absolutely fascinating collection of 100 statues of important people. I was curious..."Who are these people and why are they there?" I later discovered the main exhibition space was once used as a hallway for the House of Representatives; after the House moved it became Statuary Hall. This two story, semicircular room is one of the most popular rooms in the Capitol. In 1864, Congress invite

The mighty Colorado river, known historically for its disastrous Spring time floods, zigzags from the gleaming snowcapped mountains of Colorado southward all the way to Mexico. There, it finally empties into the Gulf of California. The lofty dreams of actually wrangling and harvesting the flood waters that would produce power and reclaim the bleak wastelands of the dessert began with the construction of a railroad that would carry essential supplies to the site of what would later be called the Hoover Dam. The angry claws of the Great Depression left people jobless and desperate. Unemployed Americans rushed to the bleak wilderness to claim jobs that would employ 21,000 people to build the “world’s largest dam”. It was a whopping 60 stories tall and at the time it was finished the highest dam in the world! The base of the dam was as thick as two football fields. Can you imagine that? But the dam had to be huge in order to withstand the pressure of all that water. It was an unbelievable feat of engineering!!

Download Podcast In 1996, the Olympic summer games were held in the United States. The Olympic torch traveled across America to communities containing 90% of the America population. Ten thousand Americans were given the high honor of carrying the Olympic torch before it reached its final destination in Atlanta, Georgia. People, of diverse ethnic groups and ages carrying the Olympic flame, ran, walked, or rode their route to the next torch bearer and handed it off. They traveled in all sorts of weather. It was rainy when the flame came to my city. The wind was howling and the rain pelted the runner as he crossed a tall bridge carrying the Olympic flame. Because the torch was carefully designed, the flame continued to burn in spite of the inclement weather. I waited to get a closer look at the runner with his famous torch. He was dripping wet and sloshing through puddles, but you should have seen his face; it was beaming. The dismal rain didn’t douse his spirits. He held the torch triumphantly high. The crowd

Is Living Water Flowing Out of You? We were in Sedona AZ and I was looking for places to visit when I spotted the words Montezuma's Castle National Monument. I had to see it. The next morning we made our way through the doors of the visitors center and onto a  winding path shaded by giant sycamore trees. I was anticipating a king’s castle. Not What I Thought! I quickly realized that Montezuma’s Castle was not the royal castle of the cruel Aztec monarch Montezuma. It was incorrectly named by white settlers that thought the apartment's were built by the Aztec Indians that escaped Mexico during the Spanish conquest. Montezuma never even came that far north. Although the name was incorrect, it remains unchanged except for the addition of national park. Better! But, what I saw was even better than a castle. I saw the homes of an ancient group of cliff-dwelling Indians. It had always been a dream of mine to see them and without even meaning to here I was. I gasp at the sight. I wanted to go inside, but they don't

Instead of asking "Do you want to hear God better?" some people are unsure whether He speaks in this age or not.   But aren't you glad that He does. His most common way to speak to speak to us is through Scripture. Although we can understand the words with our mind, we need the revelation of Precious Holy Spirit to help us grasp the meaning of Scripture.   He also speaks to our spirit.   I remember the first time God spoke to my heart.   I was so concerned about my dad's salvation, so I was praying as I walked to my grandma's house. I saw a big hardened rock of clay in the ditch. I continued my prayer "God, My dad's heart is as hard as that rock."   God whispered, "I can melt the heart of stone." That one whisper was a promise I held onto for years and years until he was saved. I can't begin to tell you what it did for me.   Let me try to frame it this way, instead of fear I had hope that fueled my faith.     Did I really hear God?   I also remember an incident that made me doubt that I could really hear God'

  While I agree bonsai trees are both beautiful and treasured, still I find them to be profoundly sad. Trees are designed to be big! You climb in them, swing on their branches, or rest in the shade of their bushy canopies. The bonsai trees are too small for any of those activities. Mature trees will reach heights of 50 to 150 feet, but a mature bonsai tree will only reach 12 to 14 inches. Bonsai trees are not dwarfed by genetics; they are miniature by deliberate design. The blueprint locked inside the DNA of the young seedling promises a mighty giant, but that destiny is deliberately altered to create a bonsai. To grow a bonsai, the taproot is clipped, and the branches are pruned. Then, the developing seedling is planted in a shallow container. The bonsai reaches maturity, but it never reaches its potential. The miniature lives in a shallow dish, while its giant relative grows unconstrained outside. Locked inside every bonsai is the unfulfilled potential to kiss the sky. The reality that there are bonsai Chri

I can't wait to tell you about some new projects that I am finishing up. It's been such a busy few weeks. Because I am in the process of finishing them this won't be a regular blog. It is mostly a podcast. So please, please listen to the podcast so you can hear my heart.    In my prayer time this morning I felt the need to share some Scripture with you that I know will encourage your heart-that's what Scripture does.    1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for aJesus Christ:   2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.   3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Then Jude continues by describing situations that are going on in the world. I am so thankful that he didn't stop with only describing the problem.  There are problems all around us, but we can't s

Download Podcast Hey! I hope you are doing well.Thank you so much for taking to time to join me. Maybe you are in the middle of a busy day, we all have those kind of day, can I tell you about one of my busy days. I remember that day so well. I was getting ready for a family conference and I hadn't finished my blog post. In the middle of my hurry mode, I stopped and why I stopped is what I want to tell you about today. I was hunting for the perfect picture for my blog. I had more to do than I could finish in a single day, so I was flipping through pictures that a crazy woman, when I felt a stop in my spirit. Most of the time, my friend Holy Spirit whispers, but this was more like a "STOP" from an onlooker over my shoulder. So I did. I clicked backward this time looking until I found THE picture. While it didn't fit the blog post I was writing, it fit where I was living. It was a picture of a huge cedar tree with dark emerald colored needles and as i looked closer I realized it was a picture of a t

Download Podcast This podcast is a combination of this post and the blog post entitled "Jesus Changed the Meaning of the Cross"     If you are reading the post only and not listening then I want to encourage you to read both posts. Exchange your money! One of the first things you do when you arrive in a foreign country is to exchange your money for currency that can be spent there. Sometimes your currency rate is strong and you get additional money. I love it when that happens. I have extra money to bring home souvenirs. Then sometimes, your currency is weak and you loose money in the exchange. The rate of exchange determines the fair value of your money at the time of the exchange.  Another Exchange System It is also important where you go to get your money exchanged so you get a fair exchange instead of getting ripped off by a dishonest person. Better than fair! God's Divine Exchange is not a fair exchange! No, I'm not inferring that He is dishonest. Instead I am saying He is generous...or to be even more

Download Podcast Life is fragile. People are fragile and sometimes life breaks their hearts. Luke tells about a broken woman. His story is concise. No name. No history. Just the bare facts. Some people have tried to name her by tying her to other stories in scripture similar to hers, however, most commentaries agree this story found in Luke 7:37-50 is unique to the book of Luke. I wish I knew more about her I hope you will read her story with fresh eyes later after I've shared my view of her story. Here is my view. I don’t know who she was or what color of skin she wore or what color her eyes were. I don’t know how old she was, but knowing people like I know people, I believe her actions are so loud I must share what I see. Not for her benefit, but for mine, for yours, for women, for little girls, and yes even for men. Her story could be my story, or your story.  Untethered from today’s politically correct boundaries, Luke the physicians' description was also a diagnosis … he said she was a sinner.  Sinner A

Why do I always have to be to one to forgive? On so many occasions, I've told my children and people that I've talked with, "You have to forgive."  And time after time, I've seen the look on their face or heard the words, "Why me? Why are you getting on to me? Do you know what they did?" And  dozen of times (especially my children) I've answered, “I’m talking to you, so let’s focus on what you need to do. You can’t change what they do, but you can change you. You are only responsible for you."   Peter's Question I wonder if that feeling is what prompted Peter's question for Jesus. I would love to know his back story or at least his feelings behind his question, “Lord, how many times do I have to forgive a person that does me wrong? Seven times?" Sounds like a lot of times to me! Knowing Jesus like I know Him, I wonder if He smiled and shook His head as He answered, “No, not 7 times. 70 times 7.” I can almost see Peter’s jaw drop in response to Jesus’ outlandish number.   Jesus had a story too.  Jesus continu

Download Podcast Have you ever wondered what that little nugget tucked in 1 Corinthians 2:16 means...the one that says "for we have the mind of Christ"? Let’s look at  the NLT “For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” “We have the mind of Christ,” what does that mean? Isaiah 55:8 ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. We understand that is very true, but why is He telling us that?” 3Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;”  In the context of these Scriptures, God is saying, "Listen. Pay attention and really hear. I want to show you a better way to think and live. I want to show you my ways and my thoughts. We understand that our mind is a processing plant just like our stomach processes and digest food. Your mind proce

Download Podcast Don't worry! Have you ever felt like... "If I hear “don’t worry” one more time I think I'll scream!" While the picturesque words peace and rest sound so inviting, most of our lives are more like a hamster wheel of work, worry, repeat. Work is healthy and necessary, but worry is not. Worry steals your peace. Worry makes you indecisive and less productive. No one enjoys worrying, yet like a vortex it sucks you in before you realize it. So many times I’ve opened the drain in the bottom of the bathtub as I instructed one of my children to get out of the tub. Often I gathered them in my arms, wrapping them in a soft towel, while rubbing them dry and hugging them all at the same time. Sometimes they would lean over the tub and watch a small yellow boat swirl in the harmless vortex that was created as the water drained from the tub. And, sometimes to my dear husband’s chagrin, I’ve watched as one of their little toys made it’s way down the drain before I could grab it. (Sorry, Wayne!) Watching the

Download Podcast Toxic Words Ever been dumped on with fiery toxic words that burn you beyond explanation or sometimes just frustrating and irrational words.  For me...I need time to process things and cool off so I can think more clearly and Pinterest is my favorite distraction. I love Pinterest! When I want to relax, really relax, I go to Pinterest. As I was glancing through the pins on my feed, a picture of a woman grabbed me. You could see something extraordinary in her face. It wasn’t anger. or meanness. It was finality. DETERMINATION! And what her face didn’t say, her body did.  Her shoulder was turned away and her hand extended out and beyond her body like a traffic cop stopping traffic at a school crossing. I lingered, mesmerized by the strength I saw in her face. I couldn’t help but wonder how that kind of courage got there. Was the strength cultivated or did it bubble up spontaneously? There’s something special about courage Intimidated people… fearful…weak people… powerless people… absolutely love

Download Podcast God wants you to be whole...mentally, physically emotionally. And the best way I know to talk about what wholeness looks like is to tell you a story! CRAYONS! A new box of crayons along with a few other supplies signal the beginning of a new school year. Pencils, pens, paper and notebooks were always simply BORING! But new crayons were wonderful, especially when I got the big box that had sea foam green inside! That was and still is my favorite color. I remember that feeling of absolute delight when I opened that box of NEW crayons. The smell, oh how I love the smell of new crayons:  Perfect crayons. Sharp crayons. My crayons. Just mine. (Smile.) Shiny, waxy, happy colors to make beautiful pictures. Wonderful options, a rainbow of beautiful colors with beautiful names written on the side. New crayons!   A brand new box of shiny crayons doesn't transform you into an artist, but it certainly makes you feel like one. I loved the new, shiny crayons, but for some reason I tucked the broken one

God with you? Jehovah Shammah, one of the names of God that I include in my prayer almost everyday is only used once in the Bible. Ezekiel shares his prophetic dream of a city that God calls Jehovah Shammah which means "God is there.' Easton's Bible Encyclopedia says the city that Ezekiel saw is a type (symbol or picture) of the gospel Church. Jehovah Shammah is considered by theologians to be one of the 7 redemptive names of God because Jesus' death made it possible for God's spirit to dwell in believers. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He would always be with us. Even though there is an abundance of Old and New Testament verses that assures us of God's presence, there seems to be some doubt that God is really with us. '  Brady Boyd, in his book' Sons and Daughters: Orphans on our way Home, writes that God spoke to his heart..."Brady, people are overwhelmed by the circumstances they face, because they've stopped believing I am near. Don't give way to the panic. And tell others to stop panicking

Download Podcast I’ve heard countless conversations, books, messages and declarations that address the question..."Am I Worthy?"  Can I ask you a personal question? Is the question "Am I Worthy?" one that rattles around in your head? And, just so I understand your answer, is the questions asking "Are you worthy to be loved?" or  "Are worthy to be accepted?" I want to come back to that question later, but first I want to ask you a critical question, "Do you know who you are?" Maybe you’re answering, “Of course, I’m…" and you fill in the blank with your name or a title that everyone knows you by…           but that doesn’t tell me who you are. Most of us answer that question internally very differently than we would answer someone asking it. Who are you? Some people answer this defining question by naming a failure or limitation...  I am a: disappointment to my mom and dad.  loser.  wreck.  stupid idiot. orphan. poor person. divorcee. criminal.” Or, some people label themselves with a sickness that defines t

Download Podcast Do you enjoy your life? Do you ever think about that? I know...I get it...we're so busy...so... distracted by… Noise. Weariness. Busyness. Worry. So many voices clamoring for our attention. We simply don’t take the time to notice or think about the wonderful things that enrich our lives. Thoughts that reflect on the precious things in life that we've been given will fill our hearts. That's full thinking. But what about you... Do you think full or empty? It is very easy to fill our thoughts with lack and need instead of  thinking about the things that make our lives full, the blessings, the happy things and people that encourage us. Why is it we have the tendency to think about things that drain us emotionally, but fail to think about things that enrich and encourage us? And, why do we allow our thoughtlessness to make us miss sunsets and licking the last drop of syrup off our fork after pancakes? Why do we think about the person that ignored us and not the radiant smile of the

Download Podcast   Would you like to think like a Problem Solver? Life can be tough, so how do you make the best of things when they don’t work out like you want them too? I suggest that you think like a problem solver. It's one of my goals for sure. I want to be great at solving problems. I understand solving problems is one of the paths for real success in life. It doesn't come natural for me, so I have had to learn from some of the greats. John Wooden “Things Work Out Best For Those Who Make The Best Of How Things Work Out.”  "Fix It!" has always been his motto. My husband, Wayne, can fix anything…OK almost anything…but his list of things he can fix is pretty impressive.  His family lived in a small rural town in Mississippi. His dad used his GI Bill to buy mules to pull stumps out of the woods so he could sell them to a turpentine plant. When he realized he couldn’t make enough money to take care of his family he became a sharecropper.  When Wayne was 9 years old his dad moved his family to Mobile where

Download Podcast Episode 11: What do you do when life gets hard? I want to ask you that question, "What do you do when life gets hard?" If you do what most folks do you complain, “It’s too hard!” If yours are like mine were, I've heard them whine dozens and dozens of times, "It's too hard! But what they were really saying is “I quit!”  It's just natural. Our natural response to a problem is often anxiety or fear. Think about the first time you spoke in front of an audience or the last time you did something you had never done before; do you remember how hard your heart was pounding in your chest? Your brain did that. When your brain sensed danger it sent set off an alarm in your body.  It's your brain's fault. Your brain is an amazing organ. It has so many functions. One function is to protect you…the first responder part of your brain sends off those warning signals to help you either fight or run. It wants you to avoid anything and everything that causes you pain. But there’s a problem…the part of the brai