The Joy of Anticipation

June 28, 2010Leave a comment

Hello my positive women friends. I hope you are having a wonderful summer. We had a great meeting last week, with our guest teacher Kathleen. We learned about trusting God through the difficulties. It was a powerful lesson. I hope you will join us on the fourth Tuesday in July as we hear another wonderful guest teacher.

Joy's Wedding Portrait

This past weekend I hosted yet another wedding shower for one of my friend’s daughters who is getting married in July. Yes, this certainly has been wedding season around the Ladd house. The thing I love most about the bride-to-be is seeing the joy of anticipation as she heads toward her big day. It’s interesting in the Bible we see the illustration of the groom and bride used as an analogy of Christ and the church. As followers of Christ, we are His bride and we too should be living in anticipation of the day he comes to bring us home.

Can you imagine if a bride showed up at her wedding and said, “Oh goodness, am I getting married today? I’ve been so busy with other stuff in my life that I haven’t really prepared. And oh, is that the groom? I’d kinda forgot what he looks like. I’ve been really distracted you know.” That seems ridiculous doesn’t it? Yet we too must examine our own hearts and consider if we are so distracted and busy about the stuff in our lives and not thinking about Heaven.

Jesus told his followers to lay up treasures in Heaven. He told his followers to remain watchful and to be ready for the day He returns. He used the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids to teach about the importance of being prepared. If you recall, five of the bridesmaids were foolish and unprepared and five were ready. He ends the story by saying, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. You can read it in Matthew 25:1-13.

This summer as I have observed precious brides (including my daughter) as they were getting ready for their wedding day, there were certain attributes I noticed in their joy of anticipation.

Their resources were spent wisely as they saved and invested for their wedding.
Their thoughts were consumed or dominated with wedding details.
Although preparation was not always easy, they knew it was worth it as they looked forward to their wedding day, and they knew that soon they would be married.
They desired to be exceptionally beautiful for their groom.
They chose to forsake all others as they were fully devoted to their husband-to-be.

Now I want you to read back over that list and think about how the same joy of anticipation relates to our preparation for being in Heaven with the Lord. Are you living for that Day or are you living with your eyes on the here and now. There is great joy in our life here if we live in anticipation of the day we will meet Christ face to face. Live for it! Be consumed by it! May we continually set our hearts on things above and draw close to our bridegroom in love.

Here are Jesus’ words found in Revelation 22. A beautiful invitation for us to be His bride.

12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

Dear friend, if you have never accepted His invitation to be a part of his family, I encourage you to place your hope and trust in him today. Jesus loves you as a bridegroom loves and cherishes his bride. Call 1-888-Need-Him to talk with someone about a relationship with Christ.

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!

The Power of Connection

May 16, 2010Leave a comment

Hello! Can’t to see you on May 25 or 26 as we have a special guest, Mary James. I know you will love her. Be sure to make your reservations dskell@roaringlambsministries.org.

This weekend we traveled down to College Station, Texas in order to watch our youngest daughter walk across the stage to receive her diploma from Texas A&M University. Although the ceremony was a bit long (thousands graduated this weekend) it was also powerful. The loyalty and connectedness between the students of A&M is a force to be reckoned with and goes far beyond obligatory school spirit. These students are fiercely loyal to each other. They not only stick up for each other, they believe it is their duty to live a life worthy of the standards and excellence of the university. Being an A&M student is a commitment to be an Aggie for life and represent the school with honor and dignity.

This same kind of loyalty and connectedness is what the apostle Paul desired to see in the lives of believers. Notice the charge he gave the believers in Philippi: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Having the same love, one in spirit and in purpose – well that describes A&M students, but sadly I’m not so sure it describes the body of Christ.

When the speaker at graduation talked about the expectations of living a life which respectfully represents the school, I couldn’t help but think about how the apostle Paul talked about walking in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul reminded the early believers that their citizenship was in Heaven. Now the Roman citizens of Paul’s time were expected to live up to the honors and standards of citizenship. They were supposed to promote the interests of Rome and live in a way that brought dignity to the city. Sounds like Aggies, doesn’t it? It should also sound like Christians, shouldn’t it?

Well, I suppose we could say there were a few life lessons learned from this observer of Texas A&M graduation. As fellow believers in Christ let us seek to:

Be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose.
Walk in a manner worthy of our high-calling as believers and citizens of Heaven.

We ought to be about building each other up and not tearing each other down. Our focus should be on serving Christ and honoring Him with all we do and say. If Aggies can do it for their school, surely we do it in honor of our loving Heavenly Father!