Good Question

June 21, 2010Leave a comment

The Ladd Hotel

It was an eventful weekend at the Ladd house (or should I say Ladd Hotel) as we had a house full of young adults staying with us. Our daughter Grace’s best friend got married this weekend and much of the wedding party stayed at our house. We had people everywhere! I woke up Saturday morning to find kids on the floor, on couches, sleeping in recliner chairs and chase lounges. I actually loved it. I must admit ever since our kids went off to college, I have missed having the house filled with young people. It makes me happy to have them. Yes, I find true joy in hospitality, although making five pots of coffee in one morning does tend to tire you. The truth is there is joy in serving people and opening up your home and life to others. Try it, you’ll like it. Remember Paul’s words in Romans 12, “Be given to hospitality.”

It was also Father’s Day this past weekend and of course we heard a tremendous sermon encouraging Father’s in their important role as leaders of their families. I’m thankful for the leadership of my own father and the positive influence he had on my life. Whether you had a good and loving father or one that did not step up to the plate as far as positive leadership, you do have a Heavenly Father who compassionately loves you and will never leave you.

The sermon we heard this Sunday challenged us to think about the legacy we are leaving our children and this world. Our pastor encouraged us to ask ourselves the question, “If I were to die tonight, what one sentence would define my life.”

Good question. Let’s consider honestly how our life would be described in one sentence right here and now. I guess a good follow-up question would be, is that the way I want my life to be described? Ponder it. Are you leaving a positive legacy to the next generation? May we live in a way that glorifies God and draws other people to Him. I hope my signature sentence will be, “She loved God with all her heart and she poured out His love to the people God placed in her life.” I know I’m not there yet – a work in progress until the day of Christ Jesus, for sure – but I trust His divine power at work within me.

Hope to see you at the Positive Woman Connection in North Dallas at Prestonwood Country Club. Join us at 12:00 for lunch and Bible study. RSVP: dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Flowers Fade, but…

June 14, 2010Leave a comment

Wish they could stay fresh forever

Well I’m sad to see the flowers from our daughter’s wedding slowly wither and fade this week, but that’s what happens to flowers. The good news is the wonderful memories still linger. As I look at these flowers, I’m reminded of a Bible verse that I learned when I was a child. “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” Certainly flowers are wonderful to enjoy, but they are also a reminder of how temporary most things are in life. We need to build our lives on what is lasting. The principles in God’s word will never fade away, and when we walk according to His ways we experience beauty in life. In our current culture some of God’s principles are frowned upon, yet their truth stands the test of time. Consider the following two areas of obedience.

Sexual Purity. There are those who scoff at the idea of saving yourself until marriage, but obedience to God’s word is always the best way. Trust, respect and joy are built when a couple waits until marriage. My daughter and her husband were committed to staying pure until they married, and they did! Yes it can be done in today’s world! I want to encourage you to stand on the principles of God’s word and keep sex within the bonds of marriage. Your life will be happier and healthier if you do.

Honesty and Integrity. Tell the truth, don’t take what isn’t yours, own up to your mistakes and don’t tell stories and blame someone else. This week my phone was stolen, yet we were able to track it down, get it back, and the thief was caught and fired from his job. Dishonesty has consequences. Integrity strengthens your reputation and your credibility. Just because you can take something that isn’t yours, doesn’t mean you ought to take someone else’s property. Just because you can cheat, doesn’t mean you ought to do it. Do what is right and people will respect and trust you. There are unhappy consequences when we disobey God’s commands.

C. H. Spurgeon said, “Obedience is the hallmark of faith.” As Christ followers, let us stand upon the sure foundation of the principles found in God’s word. Granted, not one of us is perfect, but God’s word is our standard for life. As we live by it we enjoy a beauty that will not fade.

Psalm 19 reminds us:

The law of the ⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

For those of you in North Dallas – I look forward to seeing you at PWC next Tuesday!

Life Lessons from the Mother of the Bride

June 8, 2010Leave a comment

Me with daughter Grace

Curt escorting Joy down the aisle!

Yes, my daughter Joy was married this past Saturday, and it was a glorious celebration! Adam and Joy are tremendous young people who want to honor God in all they do. It was beautiful event, and everyone seemed to have a fun and memorable time.

In the days following the wedding, I have reflected on the memorable moments of the ceremony and the reception. I thought about how happy I was to see everyone else so very happy, most importantly the bride and the groom. To tell you honestly throughout the entire planning and celebration I was continually filled with peace and joy. As I considered the specific reasons why I never felt frazzled it occurred to me they may be worth sharing with others, because they not only apply to the Mother of the Bride but to life in general. So here are a few life lessons learned from the Mother of the Bride:

Focus on what really matters. In a wedding, what really matters is honoring the bride and groom and making it a wonderful experience for the guests. It is not about showing the world what a great event-planner I am. Also, it is important to continually keep in mind that the marriage is more important than the wedding. In life we must always readjust our focus in order to remember it is not about me, it is about honoring God and serving others. We must continually and deliberately turn our focus to the bigger picture of eternity and fix our eyes on Jesus.
Fret not about gossipers and complainers. “What will others think?” ought to be four little words that are banned from your brain as you plan a wedding. Remember, you will never be able to please everyone. Someone who enjoys gossiping and complaining will still do it no matter how perfect or traditional or expensive your wedding is, so don’t try to please them. This is your daughter’s wedding, not theirs. Generally speaking we ought to always live to please one person and that is God. He wants us to love Him and love others. He does not call us to live our lives with the goal to impress others.
Enjoy the moment. The wedding goes by so fast. Before you know it the couple is preparing to run through the gauntlet of rice, birdseed or bubbles and drive away. During the entire event I encourage you to set worrying aside, be flexible and enjoy the people and the festivities. Live in the moment! Embrace it! Similarly, choose to enjoy the place in which God has placed you and the people He has brought into your life. Why waste time complaining and arguing? It all goes by so quickly.
Put the right people in place. We prayerfully and carefully selected the florist, photographer, DJ, printer, cake lady and wedding coordinator. They all did their jobs incredibly well and made the event a great success (email me if you want their names and numbers). It makes all the difference when you have people in place who do their jobs well. In life we must recognize we can’t do everything, but we can associate and connect with others who are talented in specific areas where we are weak. Be wise and prayerful as you bring others on board to help you do what you cannot do on your own. We need each other and most importantly we need the Lord. Where we are weak, He is strong.
Love. That’s what a wedding is celebrating anyway. Love your guests, love your family members (even the annoying ones) and also extend God’s love to the wait staff and people who are working with you. There is great joy when we sincerely reach out and love those around us with a kind word, a warm smile and a helping hand. Love is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not proud or rude. It is not easily angered…love never fails. The wedding event will be a success if you extend love and kindness to all. Equally, you will experience joy in life as you reach out and choose to love the people around you.

Well, that’s my top five lessons learned as we went through the wedding process. I hope you found them helpful. One last thing I must mention, I can testify to the fact that when you pray and give your cares to God, He will give you a peace that passes all understanding. Every time I felt even a twinge of fear or worry, I gave it to God and sought His direction (with thanksgiving) and I want you to know He is faithful! Joy and I decided that every Wednesday leading up to the wedding would be “Wedding Wednesday Prayer Night,” so on Wednesday’s we got on our knees together and gave every aspect of the wedding to Him. Remember to cast your cares on Him for He cares for you!

Remember!

May 29, 2010Leave a comment

It was great to be with all of you last week at Positive Woman Connection. We had the great privilege of hearing Mary James speak and sing. What a blessing! I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Here’s a little devotional thought about Memorial Day:

”Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus

Perhaps you are familiar with Eddie Rckenbacker (1892 – 1973). He was one of the most celebrated American aviators in France during WWI. In WWII he was asked to go on a special mission to inspect Pacific air bases. During one of these tours his plane was shot down and he was forced to land in the Pacific. For 24 days and nearly hopeless conditions, Eddie and seven other men drifted aimlessly in the open sea. The crew would have died due to exposure and dehydration if Eddie (the oldest person on the raft) had not encouraged them that they would make it. You can read their story in the book Seven Came Through (1943). Eddie was a courageous leader. It is fitting to highlight the following quote about by Eddie as we celebrate Memorial Day.

I pray to God every night of my life to be given the strength and power to continue my efforts to inspire in others the interest, the obligation and the responsibilities that we owe to this land for the sake of future generations – for my boys and girls – so that we can always look back when the candle of life burns low and say, “Thank God I have contributed my best to the land that contributed so much to me.” (source: America’s God and Country, compiled by William J. Federer)

This weekend as we enjoy the Memorial Day festivities, may we reflect on the great price that was paid for us to enjoy the blessings of living in this great nation. Let us always remember with gratitude the sacrificial service countless men and women have given to this country. As you enjoy a day off of work or school, take a moment to thank God for the blessings we so richly enjoy. And before you head off to the ballpark or to fire up the grill stop and thank God for the people who have paid a great price for us.

Thank you Lord for the lives of the brave men and women who have given their life in military service for our country. Thank you for the courageous example they set for us. Thank you for the freedom they preserve for us. Father God, be with their families. Comfort them and strengthen them. We shall never forget the gift they have given this country.

Still in the Midst

May 24, 2010Leave a comment

It’s Positive Woman Connection Week and I’m so excited to see you. We will have a special guest, Mary James, sharing her testimony and singing. It will be a treat. Also, at our Prestonwood location we will be having Wendy Pryne’s Ministry Gift Shop as a fund raiser to help with scholorships. I will be giving a brief recap of Philippians too. It’s going to be a great day. I look forward to seeing you there. If you will be at the Prestonwood location please RSVP to donna at dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Here is a devotional for you to ponder:

“Dwell deep in the hidden life of God. The cedar grows more beneath the ground than above it.” A.B. Simpson

The month of May is an exceptionally busy time for moms. School programs, class parties, school trips, graduations, field days can all make us as frazzled and fractured as the holiday season. Now is the time to take a deep breath and deliberately step aside to have some quiet moments with just you and God. You may be thinking, What? Didn’t you just say this is the busiest time of the year? How in the world can I make time to be alone with God?

It is possible, but you have to be intentional about quiet alone time. Consider your typical routine and determine when you can have 15 – 20 minutes to just be still and know that He is God. It may look differently for each one of us. For you, it may be just after everyone is put to bed, or during nap time, or waiting in carpool line or perhaps early in the morning. Instead of doing one more thing that you think needs to get done or instead of making that phone while waiting for the kids, turn your eyes upward and quietly focus on the God who loves you.

Keep a Bible or devotional with you and take a moment to turn your cares over to God. Ask Him for strength and direction to order your days and allow Him to speak to you through His Word. Listen to God’s invitation to you to be still and know that He is God. It is amazing to me that the God of all creation encourages us to dwell and abide with Him. Here are a few quotes to remind you of how precious and important our time alone with God is to our daily lives.

“The Christian is strong or weak depending upon how closely he has cultivated the knowledge of God.” A.W. Tozer

“Live near to God and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities.” Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“Oh for closest communion with God, till soul and body – hand, face and heart- shine with divine brilliancy! But oh for a holy ignorance of our shining!” Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“The nearer we come to God, the more graciously will he reveal himself to us.” C.H. Spurgeon