Teresa's Treasures

Last year I published a list of seven things to do to improve your life in 2012. This year I'm adding numbers eight and nine. 1) Pick out a specific place to pray for a specific person and pray for them every time you're there. For example, pray for someone while you're in the shower; pray for someone different at a stop light, at your kitchen sink, in your car, etc.. 2) Remember if you can't change the situation you have to change your attitude. If you're tied to a rock, learn to love the rock. Let the situation change you. 3) Realize acceptance does not always mean approval. There's just some things that have to be accepted in life, whether agreed with or not. 4) If you find yourself unable to get along with people, make a list of those people and then find the common denominator; most likely it's you. 5) Live in the present moment. One-hundred percent of every minute of every day is lived in the present moment. The past is only made up of memor

A dear friend of ours lost his mom this past week from a stroke she suffered several months ago. On the day of her funeral his dad entered the hospital with a possible brain tumor. Yesterday, in a flash these words came to me and I had to write them down. They are my heartfelt words to my friend Scott Burton that  apply to all his brothers and sisters who are grieving too. TO SCOTT There’s nothing to say That hasn’t been said “It’ll be okay.” “Better days are ahead.” Words seem so empty So null, so void. Times they’re a changin’ For momma’s little boy. Where does he turn? What can we do? I wish there were more To help see you through. To say that we love you Doesn’t seem quite enough For what you’ve been through We know it’s been rough. Thank God for your mom Like her there’s no other. He planned in advance Whom you would call mother. The Savior beside you On Him you must lean He watches you weep He hears when you scream. Look to the left Look to the r

As someone who’s dealt with depression most of my life, here's what I know about hopelessness and thoughts of suicide which are so prevalent this time of year. There’s a difference between wanting to die and not wanting to live. Most people just want to get away from the pain and don’t know how; I didn’t. “Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.” http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ . You are not responsible for another person’s actions. You can be around someone every day and still not know what’s going on in his head. It’s not your fault you don’t know. You cannot help a person if you don’t know he has a problem. You cannot help another person if he doesn't know he has a problem. You cannot help a person who won’t admit he has a problem. You cannot make someone talk. If someone believes depression is a sign of weakness she will be ashamed to share her depressed thinking. She probably doesn’t know she’s depressed, but k

My favorite passage of scripture in the whole Bible is Hebrews 12:1-3: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (the Hall of Faith people in Hebrews chapter 11), let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (lack of faith), and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our fait...h, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” I remember where, when and why I memorized this passage. When I was in my thirties and forties I was criticized more than at any other time in my life. I was becoming a leader in a man’s world, better known as the church, and God was teaching me submission—“making the decision work when I didn't agree with it”; and there were many. He was hon

Being a young mom is one of the hardest jobs I've ever known; being a dad is too. But since I'm a mom I want to speak from the heart of a mom who's been there and done that--to give hope to you who have children at home, little and big, wondering when will the rat-race end. Of the four stages of a woman's life, beginnings, blossoming, nurturing and harvesting, nurturing is the busiest and was for me the hardest. You experience the Mary/Martha Syndrome, trying to be both, struggling to be good at either. You wear many hats, more than at any other time in your life: wife, mom, lover, nurse, counselor, maid, teacher, taxi driver, cook, worker outside the home, Bible teacher, entertainer, friend, daughter-in-law, daughter just to name a few. Other people control your life leaving much needed "me time" non-existent. Right now, you get a glimpse of how Jesus must have felt when his cousin died, he tried to get away and the whole town came knocking at his door. You

If you’ve ever been a parent of a teenager you can probably relate to the question a friend of mine posted on Facebook a few days ago: “I’d really like to hear from parents with grown children who survived the teenage years what you did to make it through!” which is her exact quote. Giving her the quickest response I could at the time, I recommended she buy the book “Parents in Pain” by John White that I had read when I had teenagers living at home. Today, however, after having some time to think, I’ve heard the Spirit’s voice who, I think, has inspired me to write. His message came quickly early Monday morning before daybreak. This is what I heard – not out loud – but inwardly when I was still enough to listen. God is not just like a father he is a father. Why not look at God and Jesus’ relationship starting from creation? 1) God created Adam who begat Cain – the murderer Cain – who killed his brother. Only two generations away from the Creator a murderer is born. The best o

CBS News correspondent Katie Couric in her interview Sunday night with Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger introduced the story she called Flight 1549: A Routine Takeoff Turns Ugly with the following words: "When U S Airways flight 1549 crash-landed into New York's Hudson River, what seemed destined to be a tragedy became an extraordinary tale of success and survival. By the time all 155 people were pulled from the ice waters by a flotilla of rescue boats, a story began to emerge of a highly trained pro with a cool demeanor who had deftly guided his doomed aircraft to safety." "A tragedy became an extraordinary tale of success and survival" because "a highly trained pro with a cool demeanor deftly guided his doomed aircraft to safety." How did "Sully" do it? Because "Sully" fleshed out the principle of living in the present moment -- a critical principle very few people seem to understand. Richard Carlson, Ph.D. in hi

My husband Phil and I have worshiped at the same congregation for thirty-seven years minus three, when he went to law school in Northern Kentucky. We met at Greenwood Park in 1973 -- which was then the old Park Street church  -- when we were in college at Western. We were so accepted--like part of the family-- that when Phil got out of law school we decided to make Bowling Green our home. Most years I've been thoroughly happy worshiping at GWP but there were years when I wasn't. For those of you who've also been tempted to leave, here's why I stayed: 1) I realized it was God working in me to will and to act according to HIS good purpose, not man's. 2) What I believe I believe with conviction. The fact that I disagree with someone doesn't change my conviction. I'm sure I would disagree with someone "over there." 3) I realized the difference between being called and being driven and chose to be called. A called person listens to the voice of

“Forgive them, Father” “They know not what they do” He said, as they hurled insults Forgiving me too. His side was pierced His hands were nailed His blood was spilled His body assailed. As the sun stopped shining the curtain tore in two Jesus said, “I commit my Spirit, Father-- I commit it to you.” In the tomb they placed Him Where they thought he would stay Tightly wrapped in white linen On that Preparation Day Where is my Lord? Mary spoke from her heart To the tomb Sunday morning She came, while still dark. Why among the dead, Do you search for the living? He is not here, Mary. My Jesus had risen! My life to gain His life to lose Would I be willing If I had to choose To die for another Whose sins were not mine Would I have such compassion Be so loving and kind? Never could a love, So perfect as His come from my heart so stained and remiss. Never have we known love Like He showed us that day When he died on that cross Where our sins do n

Laura drew and gave me this picture on October 14, 1992 when she was eight and I was thirty-seven. She gathered the leaves from the yard at our first house on Brandywood Court, where she and David both grew up. We moved from there when Laura was ten and David was thirteen. Laura and David both saw me studying the Bible often, as speaking engagements started about that time. I studied in bed early in the mornings. (By early I mean before 11:00) kept a Bible in my car and in my purse, and Bible verses in practically every room, either on the wall or a daily flip-calendar. They knew what the Bible meant to me and saw me studying it every day. Whereas David’s love language is quality time (wherever Phil was David was – at the lake, in the woods, in the shop, at a game, etc.)  -- (They still have that relationship to this day; David is now that way with his own children), Laura’s love language is the “giving and receiving of gifts.” So when she gave me this picture she was acknowledging

Right now you’re either going through a major trial in your life or you’ve just gone through one or one is lurking on the horizon. Whoever/wherever you are, you’re not exempt – no one is. James says, “Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” which is what I’ve come to do. This is how trials have blessed my life. They’ve made me realize -- 1) That in this world you will have trouble. It’s a promise. 2) That death, mourning, crying and pain are “the old order of things.” (Rev. 21:4) They’re expected – the norm. They’re an indication I’m still alive and living in THIS world. 3) That death is inevitable; it was God’s first promise. 4) That there are worse things than death. To live here forever would be a punishment. 5) That my citizenship really is in Heaven! 6) That faith is the key – the victory that overcomes the world. 7) That it’s ALL about God; it’s not about me. 8) That my faith is IN God, not THAT God will … 9) That to believe that God EX

Yesterday Laura and I sang hymns at Magnolia Village for Alton’s 90th birthday party—“The Old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace,” “No Tears in Heaven” to name a few. Mr. Herald, I was told, loved “I’ll Fly Away” so it was he I watched as we started to sing his favorite. Mimicking a bird he whipped the air back and forth, back and forth with his hand, flying it gracefully up toward Heaven. Last night after returning home from Gatlinburg, dropping by to see “Mammie” (Brody would have dropped by to see Phil had “Pappaw” been home) David plopped Brody in my arms at the front door. As I carried him into the kitchen he saw the fan, two to be exact, mimicking them with his hand, just like Mr. Herald had mimicked the bird with his. Hands—they’re significant. My hand lines, my fingertips tell my story; yours tell yours. Whether you’re old like Mr. Herald and about to die or young like Brody and about to live, God gave you your own DNA. He made us all unique yet in some ways the same. We ALL ne

And God said “Let there be light,” and there was light. God spoke from silence. JESUS became THE WORD that is accepted by faith. Faith dwells in silence. THE WORD was revealed and is interpreted by the HOLY SPIRIT. The language of the Spirit is silence. The home of the word is silence—any word. It doesn’t matter whether it’s God’s or man’s. I meditated on this for weeks while I was sick. I usually experience the lesson I am learning at the same time I’m learning it (meditating on silence, in silence). AFTER sharing what I had meditated on with Phil, I found these words written by Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite authors, in his book “The Way of the Heart.” (When the student is ready the teacher comes. And God confirms what He’s teaching repeatedly to me.) “Out of his eternal silence God spoke the Word, and through this Word created and recreated the world. In the beginning God spoke the land, the sea, and the sky. He spoke the sun, the moon, and the stars. He spoke plan

Twelve hours of every day for the last month I’ve spent in bed. And every minute of those twelve hours I’ve shared with a bird outside my bedroom window. Unlike the bird I wrote about in April of 2009, this bird’s song is a cacophony, not a symphony – a constant, squawking, repetitive, distracting noise – reminding me of the world. And much like having to choose how I respond to the constant, squawking, repetitive, distracting sound of the world, I’ve had to choose how I've responded to the noise of the bird outside my bedroom window. In this world… The happy hear voices and laugh. The sad hear voices and cry. The friendly hear voices and talk. The lonely hear voices and remain silent. The optimists hear voices and trust. The pessimists hear voices and doubt. The worried hear voices and fear. The content hear voices and remain calm. How you feel at any given moment is a result of how YOU feel – what’s going on INSIDE of YOU – not because of what’s going on on th

My husband and I have been leaders in the church for over thirty years. We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. The good has been good. The bad has been bad. And the ugly has always been difficult – difficult for leaders who have to deal with it, difficult for the congregation who is sometime left in the dark and difficult for the community who sees the incongruence between the church’s walk and the church’s talk – the very people we try to influence for good. The world is an ugly place – where ugly belongs; but when it spills over into the church it becomes a different type of ugly. One night when I was sick and unable to “go to church” I was watching a 60 MINUTES episode with Katy Couric where she was interviewing Defense Secretary Robert Gates who served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W. Bush as Director of Central Intelligence. He has continued serving as Secretary of Defense in the Obama admini

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OVERCOMING WORRY AND ANXIETY Ask yourself “What am I thinking?” Bring your mind back to the present moment. “Right now is where life is truly lived. Life is a series of present moments to experience.” * “A mind that is out of the moment is fertile ground for worry, anxiety, regret and guilt.” * Looking back brings regret and guilt. Looking forward brings worry and anxiety. 100% of life is lived in the present moment. Realize you are God's child and your Father knows best. 1) God is in control 2) His timing is perfect and 3) He’s never made a mistake These three facts are true but hard to grasp. Once understood, and applied, they can help you cope with any and everything. Ask yourself “Is this worry real?” If it’s from the past, it’s only a memory. “Memories are simple, harmless thoughts passing through my mind.” * “The only way a thought or series of thoughts can harm me is if I give them significance.” * “If I don’t, they have no power to hurt