I've been on the go this week. Perhaps you can identify. It seems like everybody I talk to has had a challenging week and we still have so much week to cover. I was tempted to feel a little frustrated with the pace of things. It seems like the more I cross off my list as complete, the more things creep back on the list.


New things. 


Challenging things.


And, well quite frankly, I'm tired. Just. Plain. Tired. 


I was tempted to complain to the Lord about how much work stays on my plate. I was tempted to ask Him for some relief. Not because I can't use time management to get my portion done, but instead, because I am tired. My body is saying "I just don't wanna...." 


And then I remembered. 


It's Holy Week. This is the week where we remember and praise God that even when Jesus was tired, He didn't stop. He didn't quit. He didn't sit down and refuse to go another further (like my grandma used to say).

I think something is wrong with my Google Analytics. Either that, or I messed up something when I moved a few things around my site recently. I checked my hit rate through Google Analytics and saw a very disturbing scene – no visitors.


You see, because I get more emails than comments on my site (how does that work y’all??? – I guess people I know are reading the site instead of people I don’t know??) I’ve learned that comments are not a way for me to accurately gauge traffic. Therefore, I started using a tracker so that I could know if anybody was reading this blog beside me!!! This tracker has been in place for years. Therefore, when I checked last week and it kept displaying no traffic I was alarmed.


Did I say something wrong? Did I offend?


Well, come to find out that NO, those reasons were not correct presumptions. WHEW! I found this out because I have a contingency tracker. I have two tracking services, and I believe I may have a third, with results going to an Inbox I don’t really check that much! The oh-so-nice and flashy Google Analytics that I love and a rather rudimentary tracker, that is functional, but not glamorous, that hasn’t quite working yet are the two I’m sure of! So there! It’s always good to have a contingency plan. And, it’s always good to appreciate the things that aren’t so glossy and shiny and neat.


I like contingency plans. Rarely do things go the way that we expect them to go. Having this contingency tracker in place allowed me some peace of mind. This contingency plan saved me some angst.

Yeah for contingency plans!!!

I like glossy and shiny and neat. Especially when we’re talking electronics! But, some times we need to beyond the exterior and look deeper.


Revisiting my former tracking showed me just how much I’d been missing – and how much I valued the information. So, take it from me, for most things, it’s good to have a contingency plan!

When Chunks was here, we made a little trip to Target. We’d had a big day already, but when you barely see the little person that makes your heart sing, you have to pack in all the things you want to do.


At Target, he spotted the books. Of course, being master marketers, the books for his age were down low so that he could get to them. Chunks loves books. I’ll have you know, this little boy, who was sucking on a lollipop that the lady at the Old Navy store gave him, threw his lollipop on the floor, ran over and picked up a book. (Yes, I picked up the lollipop).


Because he loves books so much, he sat on the floor and looked through them. I guess he was “reading” them, but he was really very serious about his books. One after one, he picked them up, studied them and handed them to me. So, of course, along with the toys we picked up that day, we got a really nice book.


When we got home, we plopped on the couch and read the book. He loved it! I can’t wait to see how his love for books will shape the rest of his life. I’m praying that even now, his love for books will translate into a deep love for THE BOOK, the Holy Bible. Oh...many are the contemplations of this godmother.

I had planned a "light" post today. But, as I sat down to watch the news, I couldn’t go “light” today. There is something gripping our nation. The vitriol is raging and I think that as Christians we need to do something about it.

This morning, everything was running smoothly. In fact, everything was as it is every other morning. God woke me up and enabled me to dress and prepare myself for the day ahead. My routine was undisturbed. In fact, up until I was preparing to go on the highway, everything was vanilla.


That’s when I noticed it.


I looked out the drivers window and saw it.


Quickly, I prayed.


You see, this morning, other people were not having a vanilla kind of day. Others were dealing with this thing or that thing. And this morning, as I was making my turn to the highway to come to my office, I saw a vehicle accident.


There was nothing vanilla about it.


In fact, it resembled more Hollywood spectacular.


Up close and personal would I be to this accident, for it was the only way to get onto the highway. One SUV, with a mangled up hood and a dislocated bumper t-boned a small sedan, crushing the frame inward. There was glass everywhere.


At the time where my vanilla met their rocky road, the tow trucks were there, making preparations to load up the vehicles. I don’t know if an ambulance had already come and gone. I did see one woman, who looked like she could have been the owner of the sedan, gathering some things from the car. But, she also could have been a friend who stayed behind. Only God knows.


I mention this because I want us to stop and reflect about how fortunate we are when we have vanilla days. They are not boring – they are a blessing.


I like vanilla.

If one thing can be said about me, it may be this: once I commit to something, I give my all to it. 


That has been especially true in relationships. I am the one that commits and believes all the sweet nothings that have been whispered in my ear. My heart is the one that swoons whenever he draws near. My smile is the megawatt that can be seen from afar.


They say wisdom comes with age, and this is true. Thank God, this is true!


Whereas before, I would jump in, right away, no delay... experience has taught me to look for the concrete before I jump in heart first. Experience has shown me what rushing in can do. I have had my heart splattered, pounded and ripped out of my chest in a rather merciless fashion because I rushed in. Because I didn't count the costs. 


I was wounded. I needed to be healed. God did that for me by taking me through what I call reconstruction. 


Reconstruction takes time if you're going to do it right. You've got to make an assessment of how much damage has been done. Once the damage estimate is together, you'll need to clear out the debris. From that point, you'll need to check the structural integrity and make any improvements to the base. And then lastly, after all that other work is done, you can start rebuilding. It's a long process but worth it, when done right.  


Don't rush in with matters of the heart. The Bible instructs us to guard our heart. Part of guarding is taking thoughtful and deliberate actions, not just going with the flow or being carried along with the breeze. 


Once more, I exhort you - don't rush in. What's the rush anyway?! 


Take your time. You don't have to be quick, just be sure. 


Picture from broken_heart_by_starry_eyedkid-1.jpg

Excuse me while I flash back, but do you remember a rapper named Big Daddy Kane?

I used to think he was cute. Emphasis on "used to." I was sooo young.

I digress.

Anyway, He had this song “Ain’t No Half-Stepping” back a long, long time ago. Well, I haven’t heard that song in what feels like a millennium – and still haven’t heard that song recently, but this morning, when I was reading my devo, “ain’t no half-stepping” popped in my mind.


In fact, the exact phrase in my mind was “ain’t no half-stepping” and then my mind followed it up with “cause we’re, cause we’re, cause we’re the get fresh crew.” Now, I believe this is happening because I’ve been sleep deprived! Nevertheless, as I was reading about God’s abundance in my life, I begin to apply said lyrics to my relationship just to see what I could come up with.


If I think about the fact that God is G.O.D, then surely, He’s no half-stepper. He has such abundance. In fact, out of every breathing thing, He’s the only one that doesn’t half-step. No one has as much as He has because no one else is the Messiah!


Ah…the Messiah complex. We struggle with that at some point in our lives whether we want to admit it or not. So, I’m not going to ask. I’m just going to stand with John Ortberg on that one.


Anyway, my devo says “for God does nothing in half measures.” That’s certainly true. When have you ever seen God do anything half-heartedly? Seriously. When? He doesn’t half love us. He doesn’t half supply the air we breathe. He doesn’t half sustain our lives. He doesn’t half-step.


So, then why is it that we feel that we can half-step with Him? We half-step at Sunday School and with church service. We make a decision that it’s alright to come late and leave early. We make a decision that we don’t have to study every day. We sometimes show up for ministry work and sometimes decide not too. Yep, we half-step, in one way or another.


But, I want to challenge you to take another look at this. God is gracious enough to forgive us when we half-step, so let’s do something that shows Him that we can be better. Let’s make a commitment that we will no longer half-step with God.


Will you be bold enough to tell the Lord, - and I know it’s bad English – but tell Him and mean it – “ain’t no half-stepping. I’m turning over a new leaf”!

Have you been paying attention to what's been happening on television lately? 


When we turn on the television set, the morality factor that governed "tasteful" television in the 50s has long left the production studio. Instead, we see blatant displays of graphic sexual images - both heterosexual and homosexual. We see excessive drinking and hear cursing. And somehow, this has become common place.


Church services are on television too. Not all are good to watch, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. I have seen and heard blatant mis-interpretations of the Scriptures, right on television. It seemed to me the focus was on personal prosperity instead of the real call of the Gospel. Speaking of that, we are never without the call for money through some popular phrases from some slick evangelists  ... "sow a seed" ... "money cometh" ... etc. 


Then there is the subject of what's permissible in church. I was on my computer on You Tube, which is essentially like watching television, and saw a preacher singing secular love songs in the pulpit - leading and encouraging his congregation to do the same. Most sang right along with him, in the house of God. I blogged about that here. 


Anyway, it seems that even some houses of worship don't have God as the object of their worship. That's not right. Which makes me question - is the church sick?


The enemy has slipped in and we behave as if we are unaware. Are we? Or is it the case that we do know, but refuse to do anything about it. Is the church sick and afflicted with the cares of this world? Has the church lost focus?


Our enemy comes in like a virus or perhaps in some cases, a parasite, where the church is the host. And, he draws strength from the church, weakening it until he gains control. 


Our airways are infiltrated now with his poison. Our churches go on - same as usual, with only a few strong pastors fighting off the disease, while some congregants watch their watches. Do you see this, or is it just me? Is the collective church sick? 


The antidote can be found on our knees in prayer and repentance; through the reading and application of the Bible, but will we take the medicine or leave it on the counter? 


I think it's about time we take our spiritual temperature to see where we really are. 

I had the distinct JOY of spending time with my godson this weekend. By way of update, I am his biggest fan. Just in case you were wondering. At any rate, because he is such a precious little boy, I thought we would do something neat and spend a few minutes allowing him to "Guest Blog." If he were in my shoes, this is what I believe that he would type about his visit with me. 

Guess who is in town? 


Need a hint? Well, he's the apple of my eye...he's not quite two years old...and he is the sweetest little baby - well, maybe not so little, but he's the sweetest little almost two year old that I know. 


Now, you know who I'm talking about right? You guessed it! 


CHUNKS is in town! (For those of you who are new to my blog, thanks for stopping by; "chunks" is the nickname that I gave my godson for the first few months of his life because he was well, kinda chunky - but in an absolutely adorable way!!!) 


Anyhow, my little guy is in town and I tell you the truth (that's my southern coming out through the keyboard) there isn't anything I would not do for the little guy in making sure that he's taken care of. He's so precious to me. 


Having not seen me in almost a year, his memory was a little dusty when it came to dear ole Aunt Sanya (notice I said "ole" not "old"). But in just a little while, as I played the game of "give attention and ignore" with him, he came around. We were laughing and giggling, and running in a parking lot (I know - bad Aunt Sanya)!!! I can't help myself, I see him so little these days and I love to see him smile. And so I thought you might like to see his smile too. Check out this picture. 

My Daddy loves planes and knows how to fly all commercial craft. Yes, I’m grown and I still call my Dad, Daddy. Anyway, he loves planes.