Since its earliest seasons, I have been a fan of the reality show The Biggest Loser. Last year I was especially intrigued by one of the contestants’ stories. In 2006, Abby Rike lost her husband, 5-year-old daughter, and two-week-old in a car accident, an unfathomable tragedy by anyone’s standards. Watching Abby process her grief in the context of The Biggest Loser, I just knew she was Christian.
And now, she’s coming to First Baptist New Orleans, along with Bible teacher Jennifer Rothschild, worship leader Alicia Williamson Garcia, and special guests Sally Ann Roberts, Lisa Welchel, and Michael O’Brien, for the Fresh Grounded Faith regional women’s conference to held here on Friday and Saturday, April 9-10, 2010.
Tickets are now available for the two-day conference on Sundays at the Women’s Ministry table in the church lobby and weekdays in the church office (third floor). Between now and March 8, early-bird tickets are only $29 (while they last). After that, ticket prices will rise to $39 until the day of the event when the at-door price is $59. Obviously, to get the best price for this incredible conference, tickets should be purchased as soon as possible.
Abby’s story is inspiring. Not only did she lose 100 pounds as a result of her Biggest Loser experience, but she gained a healthy lifestyle and vigor for life, and is a living example that even in one’s darkest hour, there is always hope.
Let me know if I can answer any questions about the conference, line you up to volunteer as a greeter or coffee server, or sell you a ticket. I’d really like you to hear Abby’s story in person as well as Jennifer’s and the others. Contact me at judijackson@mindspring.com or 504-722-8261 (cell).
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Even after this . . .
I Kings 13:33 "Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways . . ."
No doubt, God sends 'wake-up calls' to our lives -- I think of all the ones Aaron got last year and yet, "even after this" . . .
Sarah had some strong ones of her own . . . she seemed to respond a little differently -- verdict is still out in more ways than one.
Were these "wake-up calls" more for Allen and me? Are we missing something in there for us? God, don't let me miss the opportunity to be directed, disciplined, and ultimately, saved by You!
No doubt, God sends 'wake-up calls' to our lives -- I think of all the ones Aaron got last year and yet, "even after this" . . .
Sarah had some strong ones of her own . . . she seemed to respond a little differently -- verdict is still out in more ways than one.
Were these "wake-up calls" more for Allen and me? Are we missing something in there for us? God, don't let me miss the opportunity to be directed, disciplined, and ultimately, saved by You!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Mountain Trails and Airport Terminals
I spent this weekend with an amazing group of ladies from Dunwoody Baptist, wrestling in the Word among the North Carolina mountains. The ride up was on a winding road (do they call those 'switchbacks'?) while the route back was a little straighter but slowed by heavy rain and high winds.
We studied HOPE. Couched in the words of Psalm 27:13, I shared life markers where God has taught me (and is teaching me) significant things. I celebrated that God is more than worthy of my trust, more than capable to take the horrific and turn it to His greater good. We danced around in Isaiah 40 -- the middle, the end, and then got back around to the beginning.
I ended with a reminder to be an Ebenezer collector . . . to mark times and experiences that God reminds you, "Thus far I have helped you" (see story in I Samuel 7).
What made the time even more amazing was the ladies! I met lots of new friends, but was blown away by the 'old' ones who made the effort to be there. It was SO affirming (and a little intimidating). I don't know why I didn't anticipate that I'd be speaking in front of some of my mentors from way back when but, know what? Once I 'got over it,' I truly felt the power of the Holy Spirit to speak His truth with His boldness. Whew!
The adventure didn't end at the Hinton Center. Spending seven-plus hours in the Atlanta airport waiting to get home was something else as well! I hopped between three different terminals and the Crown Room, trying to find someone who would send this Saints fan home (yep, even wore my #26 jersey to show my affection for My Boys!). The weather held up planes all over the eastern coast, making it impossible to leave before 10:50 p.m. C-R-A-Z-Y! But that craziness included watching the first half of the game in the concourse . . . watching a part of the third quarter in the Crown Room ("ma'am, I know I'm not a member but my husband is and I've been waiting over five hours . . . .) and then finishing up the game with a passenger play-by-play as we waiting on the plane for over an hour and she got phone reports from her daughter watching the game at home.
Who knows what God will use to pump you up? A weekend of power in the Word . . . an evening of nail-biter football . . . or the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl for the first time in its franchise history? I'm glad it all happened because it ALL pumps me up!
We studied HOPE. Couched in the words of Psalm 27:13, I shared life markers where God has taught me (and is teaching me) significant things. I celebrated that God is more than worthy of my trust, more than capable to take the horrific and turn it to His greater good. We danced around in Isaiah 40 -- the middle, the end, and then got back around to the beginning.
I ended with a reminder to be an Ebenezer collector . . . to mark times and experiences that God reminds you, "Thus far I have helped you" (see story in I Samuel 7).
What made the time even more amazing was the ladies! I met lots of new friends, but was blown away by the 'old' ones who made the effort to be there. It was SO affirming (and a little intimidating). I don't know why I didn't anticipate that I'd be speaking in front of some of my mentors from way back when but, know what? Once I 'got over it,' I truly felt the power of the Holy Spirit to speak His truth with His boldness. Whew!
The adventure didn't end at the Hinton Center. Spending seven-plus hours in the Atlanta airport waiting to get home was something else as well! I hopped between three different terminals and the Crown Room, trying to find someone who would send this Saints fan home (yep, even wore my #26 jersey to show my affection for My Boys!). The weather held up planes all over the eastern coast, making it impossible to leave before 10:50 p.m. C-R-A-Z-Y! But that craziness included watching the first half of the game in the concourse . . . watching a part of the third quarter in the Crown Room ("ma'am, I know I'm not a member but my husband is and I've been waiting over five hours . . . .) and then finishing up the game with a passenger play-by-play as we waiting on the plane for over an hour and she got phone reports from her daughter watching the game at home.
Who knows what God will use to pump you up? A weekend of power in the Word . . . an evening of nail-biter football . . . or the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl for the first time in its franchise history? I'm glad it all happened because it ALL pumps me up!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Are they really gone?
As of mid-morning today, both kids are officially back to college. Sarah left two weeks ago, but surprised us with a quick visit yesterday to take advantage of the MLK holiday. Aaron packed up his things last night in the biggest hurry I've seen him in in over a month, and is looking ahead to his fourth semester at LSU.
Quiet. No TV on in the background. No random phone ringing somewhere in the house. It's quiet, and I'm loving it.
Don't get me wrong. I really do like having my kids around, at least when they are choosing to be around and not just using us for a pit stop between things. But most of the time we're the pit stop. And that's something that's hard to get used to. Still.
Don't ask me what I'll do to fill the time now that they're gone. I've got more than enough on my plate for the next two weeks. So, for now, I'll enjoy the quiet, try to check something off my to-do list, and get ready for my own semester.
They'll be back before I know it!
Quiet. No TV on in the background. No random phone ringing somewhere in the house. It's quiet, and I'm loving it.
Don't get me wrong. I really do like having my kids around, at least when they are choosing to be around and not just using us for a pit stop between things. But most of the time we're the pit stop. And that's something that's hard to get used to. Still.
Don't ask me what I'll do to fill the time now that they're gone. I've got more than enough on my plate for the next two weeks. So, for now, I'll enjoy the quiet, try to check something off my to-do list, and get ready for my own semester.
They'll be back before I know it!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve Rainbow
What a rainstorm we had today! Sideways, straight down, sprinkles, puddles, flooding, lots of rain.
And just when it seemed that it might go into the night -- and maybe even hinder the Christmas Eve service -- the sun began to break through, even as it was time for it to set.
As we exited the Pontchartrain Expressway, I was amazed to look in the sky and see a beautiful rainbow. I was startled. I don't remember EVER seeing a rainbow in New Orleans in December . . . EVER. But today, what a beautiful reminder of God's love and promises and presence . . . a beautiful almost-double rainbow.
Thank you, even in the midst of some hard stuff at home, that you are amazing. You are the promise-keeper!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I want to be a blogger
I want to be a blogger. I really do. I have all sorts of thoughts that swirl around my brain and, sometimes, I think 'I should blog about this.' But then life happens, and I move on, and before I know, I've encountered another big thought or experience, and still haven't blogged.
So I'm going to try (TRY) to be intentional about blogging. Not waiting until I have monumental, life-altering inspirations but, instead, writing about life-living small stuff kinds of things that seem to make the way for the monumental, life-altering inspirations.
For instance, when I was driving to the airport to pick up Allen last Saturday, I was anxious about how and when I would share a bit of hard news that I couldn't tell him through Skype or phone calls while he was in the Philippines. I was trying out my newly acquired Pandora radio station on my i-Phone when the song "Blessed Be Your Name" came on.
Now that song has been quite meaningful to me for years . . . we sang it during our 2005 mission trip to Florianopolis, Brazil . . . we sang it in our first service back in the FBNO sanctuary after Katrina . . . and we have sung it numerous times in between and since. It always reminds me that I have a choice in how I will respond to any and every circumstance.
So, while I had endured a week of 'how will I tell Allen?' 'when will I tell Allen?,' the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I had been acting like my issue of concern was a terrible thing to find out. But what if I looked at it from the other side? What if I saw that it was a good thing to KNOW what was going on and that we could now act accordingly.
This changed my anticipation completely. It was another experience of God challenging me to leave behind my 'woe is me' attitude, and focus instead on His MANY blessings. T. W. Hunt wrote in DISCIPLES PRAYER LIFE: "If we praise God on the mountaintop but refuse to praise Him in the valley, we are praising NOT God but our feelings." Ouch! That's not my intent!
So, today, I praise Him for what I know, what I don't know, and most of all, for what HE knows. He is in control, and already giving us glimpses of His amazing work. More to come.
So I'm going to try (TRY) to be intentional about blogging. Not waiting until I have monumental, life-altering inspirations but, instead, writing about life-living small stuff kinds of things that seem to make the way for the monumental, life-altering inspirations.
For instance, when I was driving to the airport to pick up Allen last Saturday, I was anxious about how and when I would share a bit of hard news that I couldn't tell him through Skype or phone calls while he was in the Philippines. I was trying out my newly acquired Pandora radio station on my i-Phone when the song "Blessed Be Your Name" came on.
Now that song has been quite meaningful to me for years . . . we sang it during our 2005 mission trip to Florianopolis, Brazil . . . we sang it in our first service back in the FBNO sanctuary after Katrina . . . and we have sung it numerous times in between and since. It always reminds me that I have a choice in how I will respond to any and every circumstance.
So, while I had endured a week of 'how will I tell Allen?' 'when will I tell Allen?,' the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I had been acting like my issue of concern was a terrible thing to find out. But what if I looked at it from the other side? What if I saw that it was a good thing to KNOW what was going on and that we could now act accordingly.
This changed my anticipation completely. It was another experience of God challenging me to leave behind my 'woe is me' attitude, and focus instead on His MANY blessings. T. W. Hunt wrote in DISCIPLES PRAYER LIFE: "If we praise God on the mountaintop but refuse to praise Him in the valley, we are praising NOT God but our feelings." Ouch! That's not my intent!
So, today, I praise Him for what I know, what I don't know, and most of all, for what HE knows. He is in control, and already giving us glimpses of His amazing work. More to come.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A New Day
Sarah leaves for college tomorrow. Aaron left today. Wow. The day I thought would never come is almost here. Empty nest. I wanted to write a few words tonight so I could compare what my actual emotions end up being.
I'm sure I'll be teary. It's a passing of an era. How could I NOT be teary? I was teary when I took Aaron to Mississippi College for the first time, and it was definitely time for him to leave home. He had been shredding those apron strings for years.
So my experience with Sarah is probably going to be no different . . . maybe even a little more so. She's my girl and, even though she's been jumping out of the nest for a while herself, she still flutters close to my heart often enough to make me know we'll miss each other . . . on some level . . . some of the time.
I can't describe the emotions. It's almost as though I'm afraid to feel but then I think, how can I help but feel? It's how I'm wired. I'll miss my kids. I may even miss their mess . . . eventually (not right away, though). But I'm also looking forward to reconnecting with myself, my sweet husband, my God, my purpose, my future.
I just need to give myself passage. This is a part of the journey. I don't want to rush the trip . . . literally or figuratively. Allen's got class on Thursday so our turn-around will be relatively quick. That's okay . . . as long as I don't have to be emotionally 'fine' when we drive back on campus and into our new life.
Sarah, I pray wonderful things for you at this new beginning. I pray true friendships, meaningful study experiences, and enlightened glimpses into who you are becoming in Christ. I pray that the pieces of your life come together in a peace-filled way so that you will not see your new-found freedom as a time of reckless abandon but instead as a precious opportunity to be all that God is creating you to be. He is not just your Savior but the ultimate Director and Producer of your life. Respect Him as such, and I believe you will be amazed at the doors that will open for your talents and giftedness. You are my princess . . . from the first September 26 (actually from nine months earlier when your brother prophesied, 'I have a little sister') . . . and on across this amazing threshold to many more birthdays and new beginnings. Know that I am always your mom, no matter where you are, no matter where I am. Distance doesn't determine relationship. Heart connection does. May we grow in connectedness. May we grow in love.
I'm sure I'll be teary. It's a passing of an era. How could I NOT be teary? I was teary when I took Aaron to Mississippi College for the first time, and it was definitely time for him to leave home. He had been shredding those apron strings for years.
So my experience with Sarah is probably going to be no different . . . maybe even a little more so. She's my girl and, even though she's been jumping out of the nest for a while herself, she still flutters close to my heart often enough to make me know we'll miss each other . . . on some level . . . some of the time.
I can't describe the emotions. It's almost as though I'm afraid to feel but then I think, how can I help but feel? It's how I'm wired. I'll miss my kids. I may even miss their mess . . . eventually (not right away, though). But I'm also looking forward to reconnecting with myself, my sweet husband, my God, my purpose, my future.
I just need to give myself passage. This is a part of the journey. I don't want to rush the trip . . . literally or figuratively. Allen's got class on Thursday so our turn-around will be relatively quick. That's okay . . . as long as I don't have to be emotionally 'fine' when we drive back on campus and into our new life.
Sarah, I pray wonderful things for you at this new beginning. I pray true friendships, meaningful study experiences, and enlightened glimpses into who you are becoming in Christ. I pray that the pieces of your life come together in a peace-filled way so that you will not see your new-found freedom as a time of reckless abandon but instead as a precious opportunity to be all that God is creating you to be. He is not just your Savior but the ultimate Director and Producer of your life. Respect Him as such, and I believe you will be amazed at the doors that will open for your talents and giftedness. You are my princess . . . from the first September 26 (actually from nine months earlier when your brother prophesied, 'I have a little sister') . . . and on across this amazing threshold to many more birthdays and new beginnings. Know that I am always your mom, no matter where you are, no matter where I am. Distance doesn't determine relationship. Heart connection does. May we grow in connectedness. May we grow in love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
