THE GREAT FULL-NESS

I saw this play on words in something that I was reading yesterday, but truly, it sums up a Christian's take on gratefulness. Being thankful for what we have, despite what we may lack, and rejoicing in the Gift we have been given no matter what our circumstances is the Great Full-ness--our greatest blessing.

• In Christ, I am full of His righteousness.
• I am full of His peace.
• I am full of His joy.
• I am full of His purpose.
• I am full of His gentleness.
• I am full of His love.
• I am full of His hope.

If you have ever felt hopeless, then you know how elusive hope can be. I met a woman recently who was all out of hope. She lost one son in a swimming pool accident several years ago. Another son is currently in jail due to gang-related activity. She was looking for hope--hope for her youngest son, who--not even twelve--has already been in trouble with local authorities, and hope for her new grandson.

Chuck Colson, in the introduction to Steven Curtis Chapman's song Heaven in the Real World, says this:

"Where is the hope? I meet millions of people who feel demoralized by the decay around us. The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us, or what laws we pass, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that's where our hope is in this country. And that's where our hope is in life."

While I certainly ate my fill yesterday, feasting at a glorious table surrounded by those I most cherish, I woke up to a nagging question concerning my spiritual fullness. So I'm sharing that question with you today:

Are you full yet?

The Great Full-ness can only be found, experienced, and maintained in a living, life-giving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My friend Steve Sawyer says: Serve God by loving man; serve man by loving God. In loving and serving others, we best express our love for and service to God. That's a truly FULL-filling lifestyle.

BOOK AND CHASE

It was bright and early--and COLD--when Danya and I headed for the Fox TV station this morning! It was around 22 when I got up, and up to 30 by the time we headed toward the city. Yeah, my girl is not a morning person, but I was really glad to have her along. Here we are after my segment.

(L-R) CHARLIE CHASE, KELLY SUTTON, ME, DANYA

Charlie Chase and Kelly Sutton are just as warm and kind in person as they seem to be on "Tennessee Mornings." And meeting Charlie was just, well, it was definitely a fan moment for me. I always liked watching "Crook & Chase" years ago on TNN, and Charlie is just so likable and a real broadcasting pro. He's a Nashville icon, for cryin' out loud!

I thought about broadcasting during my freshman year in college, actually, and began heading toward a communications major. I had interned at a Christian radio station in Knoxville during my senior year of high school, and they let me do so many things there that I started to really get the bug for it! I worked with the afternoon deejay, and he had me scrambling around writing news stories and occasionally getting to work with him on air. I also helped with a Saturday night Contemporary Christian Music showcase back when CCM was finally getting its legs.

Okay, so anyway...these people had actually read through my media kit and flipped through the book. I was so impressed, not to mention grateful. Remember in "Freaky Friday" when the mom/daughter goes on the talk show, and the host leans over and says, "I actually read this one!" Well, of course, they don't have time to read everything. And often, they don't have time to flip through it, either. Thus, the press kit! Makes things easier for everyone! But they seemed well-acquainted with my book, and me, and it made for such an easy interview! Whew!

There was only one time that I was taken by surprise, and that was when CC asked me, "Did you ever have to use 'tough love' on your children?" And the thing is, when I'm speaking or writing, I always clear the stories that have to do with my family with them before I say or print anything. So, I was not really prepared to rat anybody out! Fortunately, the Psalmist prayed, "Open my mouth, Lord, and fill it!" (loose Rebecca paraphrase), so I just let the Lord answer that one with a generic, "It's important for parents to be consistent" answer. Hmmm. That might be the first time in my life that I have been politically correct!

Remembering Bro. Jimmy

Before I blog about the great time I had today at "Tennessee Mornings," I want to share something about the very first time I had the opportunity to be on TV to plug a book. It was back in 2001, and the book, of course, was Baby Boot Camp. Through a connection at my church, I got to go on a popular local midday news show. I was so excited! (Remember, at that time, BBC was the self-published edition, so any promo that I got, God was providing through friends and acquaintances--no publisher was paving the way!)

BBC is a devotional book for new moms. There is no way around that. So imagine my surprise when I got to the studio, nervous as a cat, and the show host very graciously informed me that I couldn't talk about God. Hello? It's a devotional book. What in the world am I going to talk about? I remember turning to my husband (who was with me) in a sheer panic. If I thought I was nervous before, I was positively shaky at this point. As the show host and I were seated and they put the mic on me, she leaned forward and said, "Hey, we're all behind you here, and we support what you're doing. We just have to be really careful how we do this." She laughed then and said, "I'll drive!" (meaning for me to relax and let her "drive" the interview).

What else could I do?

I believe that sometimes--perhaps often!--God puts us in situations for which we are totally unprepared, and then He insists that we relax and let Him drive!

After the segment, I left the studio feeling really defeated. It had really gone okay (they ended up inviting me back a few times), but in my mind, it was horrible. (Y'all know how the mind works, right?) I felt like I had done nothing that really honored God, that the message I had for new moms had not been articulated, and on and on. (I can really beat myself up.) The next day, however, I received a card from my pastor. (My dear pastor at that time, Bro. Jimmy Moore, has since gone Home to be with the Lord, just about one year ago. But I have been thinking about him for the past two weeks, since Fox booked me for this week.)

My dear pastor had taken the time to send me a note, penned in his own hand. I cherish it. In it, he told me he had watched the show, and he told me that I had represented the Lord and our church well, and he was proud of me.

I can't express how much his loving words meant to me. It was so like him to express his loving care for his sheep in such a thoughtful way. Over the next several days, there is no telling how many times I re-read that card. Whenever I thought about how I had bombed, I ran to that card.

You know, God has given us His Word to run to when we feel discouraged, defeated, or depressed. He's offered us a love letter, penned in His own Hand. It is so like Him to express His loving care for His sheep in such a thoughtful way! My dear Bro. Jimmy showed Christ in so many of the little things he did, and I know I never thanked him enough. I have been blessed with his sweet memory lately, and I am so thankful for that! He believed in me and what I was doing.

Does someone need to hear that from you today?

WHY COULDN'T I HAVE GONE TO EAST HIGH?

Have you seen HSM3? I have to admit, I'm a fan! It's the high school I wish I'd gone to!

Here's how I felt about high school: I'm meeting with the Josten's rep to order my class ring, right? And he's looking at the design I've chosen, and he points out to me where my school name will go.

"I have to have the school name on my ring?" I asked.

Awkward pause from rep who is obviously strung out from a day spent with teenagers. "Uhm, yeah," he said. "You have to have the school name on the ring."

Awkward pause from student (me!) who is obviously strung out from a day spent with teenagers. "Does it have to be the name of my school?"

Here's what you have to understand: I had huge dreams for high school! After all, Greg and Marcia loved it! I just knew I would, too! Alas, those dreams were dashed during my middle school years, and while I held on to hope that high school would be better. . .it took around a day to figure out that it wouldn't be! :)

Derek and I went to see HSM3 last weekend, just as I was finishing up work on the cover article for the April 09 issue of HomeLife magazine. The story is about Missy Jenkins, a school shooting survivor. Time and again as I interviewed Missy and others, read through her book, and researched the shooting, I found myself weeping. I thought, "This could have happened in my high school." So the irony of watching the wholesome, fun, singing and dancing East High after working through such an event as the Heath High School shooting was not lost on me. In fact, it provided a balance, and that was really a good thing!

You know what? I'll bet if I had gone to East High, I would still be wearing my class ring!

I NEED YOUR HELP WITH AN UPCOMING ARTICLE FOR PARENTLIFE MAGAZINE!

When I was in the second grade, a girl in my town went missing while she was going door-to-door delivering Girl Scout cookies. Her picture hung on our classroom bulletin board, and her story has remained tacked on my heart for the past 33 years. You see, her body was found one month later. But her killer was indicted and charged only this past summer. The case remained unsolved, and our town forever changed. The kids who were growing up during that time remember.

Remember when Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bed in 2002? I remember several conversations with other moms and how scared we all were. I didn't sleep through the night for months. I got up at least once to check on my kids.

Do you ever wonder if your parenting is motivated by fear? Perhaps it's fearing that your child will be hurt or killed in an accident. Or you fear wrong influences will cause them to deny Christ. Perhaps you fear drug addiction, mental illness, or that they will marry the wrong person. Would you be willing to share your story with me? And if you've learned to conquer your fears through your faith in Jesus Christ, I definitely want to know that, too!

As usual, my deadline fast approaches! Please don't delay in your comments, or if you would like to respond personally, just email me! Thanks!

BE CONTENT

You know what? My team didn't win. And while that is disheartening, I am not going to spend the next four (and possibly eight years) in a wad. Are you surprised?

Well, let me ask you: Who was in charge of this election? God Almighty! He puts the rulers in place. And do you know what His Word says? Proverbs 21:1 tells us, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases."

I would think that goes for presidents, as well.

President-elect Obama is on my prayer list. And I hope he is on yours, too. I'm praying that he will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ truly as his Savior. And in doing that, whether God draws his heart to His own or not, He will surely draw my heart closer to His. He will surely find me on my knees more each day. He will surely continue to reveal Himself to me as I seek His face. And so, though it's not the outcome I hoped for, I will be content.