God Continues to Teach Me Archives

Revisiting Godward Thoughts from New York City, 2018

12/06/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

As you read this today, Steve and I are visiting the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. I am so eager to share the photos and impressions of our visit with you when we return. In the meantime, I wanted to take you back to thoughts I had in New York about the words from “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” https://www.conniewasthere.com/2018/12/21/when-hate-is-strong/

And, I want to share our experience attending worship at The Brooklyn Tabernacle. If you plan a trip to NYC, please, please, please time it so that you can go to this spirit-filled place. If you don’t think you’ll be able to visit in person, then go to their website and “have church” with them right in your own home. https://www.conniewasthere.com/2018/12/14/when-church-is-that-good/

Have a great week, everyone. Enjoy this season that points the world to Jesus.

Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

PASSION AND LOYALTY — Secrets to a fulfilling life?

11/08/2019 By: CCPearson1 Comment

I love talking to Virginia Howell about Auburn University sports, especially football. She KNOWS whereof she speaks, has season tickets to all the home games and goes to an impressive number of away games. She might not return home from a night game until the wee hours of Sunday morning, but you’ll still find her faithfully in Sunday School and in her seat in the choir loft after very little sleep the following morning. She may love Auburn sports, but she loves her church even more. Maybe I should add here that Virginia is 85 years old. Clearly, being both passionate and loyal have helped her find the path to the Fountain of Youth. Her eyes and mind are clear and sharp. She inspires me.

While working on a writing assignment from Desoto Magazine about Belhaven University’s Singing Christmas Tree performances presented continuously since 1933, I had the privilege of interviewing another octogenarian who’s full of passion and loyalty.

Ms. Bettye Quinn recalls attending the Singing Christmas Tree event in Jackson, Mississippi when she was only 3 years old. The lights and music enchanted her and sparked her imagination. Since that night in 1937 (four years after the tradition began), she hasn’t missed a single year of attending this performance. Once she finds her seat this year on the first weekend in December, that will add up to 82 STRAIGHT YEARS OF ATTENDANCE!!!

Not only does Ms. Quinn love the Christmas concert, she also loves Belhaven University. Currently, she is an associate professor of Education and Director of Elementary Education, a position she has held for over 50 years. After she was hired at Belhaven, she went to the choir director and asked if she could sing with the group. He agreed, and she was actually one of the performers for 10 years, adding her soprano voice to the majestic chorus consisting of about 100 singers.

As a child, she loved sitting as close to the tree as possible, but now, as a senior adult, she finds a more accessible place to watch and listen.

Remarkable commitment to a tradition. Passion for seeing it continue. Loyalty to those who make it happen.

What are YOU passionate about? What subjects/events/occasions cause you to enthusiastically jump on board? What causes have gained your unwavering loyalty?

Loyalty to a university is admirable. Being a passionate fan of a sports team or a Christmas concert is fun and energizing. But, I believe we’d all agree that our HIGHEST LOYALTY and our MOST INTENSE PASSION should be focused on God, on the teachings in His Word and on being obedient to His commands. What would it look like if our unwavering commitment to God matched — even surpassed — the other passions in our lives? Is it too much to suggest it would be world-changing?

Proverbs 3:3-5 (The Passion Translation) — “Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught.
Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart.
⁴That’s how you will find favor and understanding
with both God and men— you will gain the reputation of living life well.⁵Trust in the Lord completely,
and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on Him to guide you,
and He will lead you in every decision you make.

Here is a link to my story in Desoto Magazine. https://issuu.com/desotomagazine/docs/desoto-november_issuu Story begins on page 24.

When Your Cheerleaders Don’t Show Up

10/25/2019 By: CCPearson6 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, Steve and I witnessed one of the strangest high school football games we’d ever seen. Our home team won 76-0, but what was happening across the field was troubling.

The home stands were filled. The band kept a solid repertoire of rousing music and cadences going. The cheerleaders stirred us up and threw plastic footballs into the crowd after each touchdown. Hundreds of nachos, burgers, sacks of popcorn and drinks were consumed. All of the normal Friday night happenings happened.

But, on the other side, it was the complete opposite.

I could count only a dozen or so in the visiting stands, and a few of those were actually the overflow from the home crowd. There were no cheerleaders or banners. Not a single blast from a trumpet or beat of a random drum.

The visiting team’s uniforms were white, devoid of decoration or color. The team members appeared to be lacking even the most basic skills or game strategy, such as not running the ball out of the end zone on a kick-off when an opponent stood at the 1 yard line ready to trounce. The home team’s defense scored almost as many points as the offense, because of poor ball handling skills. From what I could tell, the visiting team’s bus driver kept the motor running — likely anticipating an early departure.

By the time the second half started, some “mercy rules” were established. Two 8-minute quarters without stopping the clock except for heat breaks made short work of the massacre. We learned that even though it was the sixth game of the season, the visiting team had yet to score a single point.

That team desperately needed cheerleaders. They needed moms and dads screaming their heads off for every completed pass or first down — and there were a few. I wish our coaches had figured out a way to let them score and then encourage the whole home crowd to stand and cheer their effort. They fiercely needed a taste of victory to jumpstart their appetites for better, for more. How were they able to keep going out on the field once the score got so high in the other team’s favor? For that matter, where were they finding the courage and the motivation to keep showing up for practices? Why were there no cheerleaders or band members? And, most of all, why, oh why, were there no parents to lend even a tiny bit of moral support?

We ALL need cheerleaders. Life can get hard. We’re not going to win every game. We need someone or several someones pushing us from behind, whispering instructions in our ears, showing us how to improve and applauding our efforts at making even small amounts of progress.

My mother was the cheerleader in our family. We were devastated when she died suddenly. My dad, brother, sister and I struggled until my dad remarried, and our stepmother became a new cheerleader for us. Then, she also died, and our dad died. Now, we have to keep each other cheered and encouraged.

With my husband and children, I believe we each use our unique personalities to cheer each other in different ways and at different times. One might soothe, while another points to a carefully-constructed list of logical points. One might “whip into shape” while another makes us laugh. One just listens and hugs. And then, we switch roles and stay on track. Sometimes family members are the cheerleaders. Other times friends fulfill those needs.

Maybe Baby Beatrix will grow up to be someone’s cheerleader. At least she has the outfit. 🙂

Who are your cheerleaders? How do they keep you moving in a forward direction?

For whom are YOU a cheerleader? Is God bringing the name or face to your mind of someone who needs an encouraging nudge from a person who truly cares?

I believe we need to turn on our Cheerleader Radars and zero in on someone who’s thinking of quitting the team. Someone who’s wondering, “What’s the use?” Someone who’s had more losses than wins.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Fueling Up – Lessons from Hummingbirds

10/18/2019 By: CCPearson6 Comments

During the last weeks of the summer, Steve and I enjoyed a magnificent spectacle off our back porch and through our family room windows. We had a flock of hummingbirds buzzing around our flowers and feeders that we estimate numbered more than 50. Many, many more than we had ever had before. The sight and that very distinctive humming sound were hypnotizing.

Steve was very particular about his “brew” (1 c. sugar to 3 c. water) AND about how he wanted it prepared. Which generally meant that I just let him do it. 🙂 To keep four feeders supplied, he seemed to be making a gallon or so of his brew every other night. He was diligent about the task, and he had been very specific in the spring with his flower choices. He WANTED these tiny creatures to find our yard, and they did.

Consider these fun facts I found on kaytee.com:

A typical hummingbird weighs less than a nickel.
A female lays only 1 or 2 eggs, each one smaller than a jellybean.
The kind we had in our yard — Ruby-throated hummingbirds — are found in the eastern part of the U.S. and from Canada to Mexico.
They drink nectar by moving their tongues in and out about 13 times per second.
A flock of hummingbirds may be called a bouquet, a glittering, a hover, a shimmer or a tune. Don’t you love those words? Aren’t they perfect?
Hummingbirds don’t migrate in flocks. Instead, they typically travel alone for up to 500 miles at a time.

I looked a little further and found in thespruce.com that they have a heart rate of 1200 beats per minute. I was particularly interested in the preparations they make for their long migratory journey. Again in thespruce.com, I found that “as daylight levels begin to change, hummingbirds eat more on purpose and increase their weight by 25-40%.”

When our feeders were being bombarded with hungry hummers, they were racing to get fueled up for the long, solitary flight they were about to make. Their tiny brains told them what they needed to do. The Heavenly Father Who created them equipped them with the instincts to survive.

I believe that as Christians we also know instinctively what we need to do to stay healthy spiritually, to function as He intended and to stay fueled up for our own journeys. Here are some steps I can take to keep myself ready for what life brings:

Pray. Talk to God, and listen for Him to speak. Many times that means I need to be quiet and often it leads me to journal.
Read and study my Bible. There’s something new every time I open it. It’s up to me to open it often.
Have times of both private and corporate worship. God wired me so that music is my heart language. It is absolutely essential for me to be hearing or making music that is God-honoring on a regular basis.
Obey God, particularly when I feel Him urging me to reach out to someone or to serve in a particular way.
Love God and love my neighbor. Those commands are woven all through the Bible. We don’t have to doubt whether or not these are His will.
Have regular fellowship with fellow believers. For me, this means being plugged into a local church. I NEED my brothers and sisters in Christ. A hummingbird may make his epic journey alone, but I need people beside me as I face the challenges of life. I crave their encouragement, and I believe it’s my privilege to give encouragement in return.

We don’t usually have advance notice when an obstacle rears its head, when a diagnosis rocks our world, when an unexpected life event changes everything. It’s important to stay ready — to stay fueled up.

The Message paraphrase of 1 Timothy 4:6-10 reads this way:

” Exercise daily in God–no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.”

And, of course, we can’t leave the subject of birds without looking at Matthew 6:26:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (NIV)

Restoring Order

10/11/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

We had five grandchildren in the house recently for a weekend of fun, three boys and 2 girls ages 11-14. Big kids with lots of energy and ravenous appetites. There was not a cross word spoken. They were exceptionally polite to Steve and me. They slept well, played hard and ate everything I put before them. The boys and Steve headed to Auburn for a day of football, while the girls and I headed to the mall for a day of shopping. We all made it to Sunday School the next day ALMOST on time. 🙂

Now they are back home with their parents, and we’ve all added new layers to our stash of memories and to our relationships.

So, it’s time to restore order. My mind works best when there is order. And “order” is a biblical principle, after all.

1 Corinthians 14:40 – “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion (disorder), but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

Kitchen and bedrooms need the most attention, followed closely by the bathrooms, the family room, the areas around the pool, the car and truck. You get the idea. Everywhere these young folks were, there is evidence. 🙂 Steve and I are happy to work together to put things back the way we both function best — when it’s just the two of us.

“In the beginning,” according to Genesis 1, God looked out and saw that the world was shapeless, non-functional, in disarray, and He set about putting it in perfect order according to His perfect plan. Within 6 days, the heavens and earth came into being, along with the sun, moon, planets, stars, oceans, dry land, plants and animals. Then, when everything was arranged exactly as required to provide for every need, He created a man and a woman. Go back and read the first 2 chapters of Genesis and notice how amazing God’s design and order were. God merely spoke the words, and everything came to be in the exact place they would function best.

Hebrews 11:3 – “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God . . . .”

As with all analogies, this one breaks down at this point. In the case of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned and brought chaos and disorder back into the world UNTIL Jesus came to give us the way to restore our relationship with God, to be forgiven for our sins and to have peace again. In the case of the visit from our teen and pre-teen grands, they might have messed up our “order” for a few days, but it is easy to put things back, and it is certainly worth the effort and energy to have had that time with them.

Anyway, I was just thinking about order and disorder this morning and wanted to share my thoughts. Is your life “in good order” today? Not only is your physical environment organized, neat, clean and attractive, but is your relationship with God in good order? Think about it.

Bobbie Wesson Made a Difference

10/04/2019 By: CCPearson8 Comments

Bobbie Jo Smith Wesson died last week. She was only 67, but her years made a tremendous impact on many people.

Bobbie will be missed the most by her husband Bob and her two children, Clay and Elizabeth. Her beautiful granddaughter Charlize will grow up only knowing her through photographs, but every time she struggles, someone can encourage her by sharing examples from her grandmother’s life.

Bobbie will long be remembered by the hundreds of kindergarten students she taught through her lengthy career. She loved them, learned all she could about the best ways to teach them and gave them a solid start on their way to becoming productive adults.

I remember when Bob and Bobbie started dating. The laughs were numerous when it was pointed out that her maiden name was Smith and his last name was Wesson. So many gun references. And, there was another man in our church with her same name, Bobby Joe Smith, who headed up the Boys’ Ranch at that time. Then along came this new Bobbie Jo Smith. We all had to be sure we were talking to or about the right Bobby Joe/Bobbie Jo.

Bob and Bobbie were a perfectly-matched pair. Both die-hard Auburn graduates and fans. Both devoted to their faith and to their families. Bobbie didn’t have any brothers or sisters, so she was immediately adopted and swept up into Bob’s group who were long-established in Hartselle. They enjoyed parenthood. I wasn’t around Clay and Elizabeth during their growing up years, but I remembered Clay as being very bright and precocious and Elizabeth as being so pretty and “all girl.” Bobbie loved showing friends Elizabeth’s wedding photos. Clay now lives in Oregon, and Elizabeth is in Birmingham. It’s clear that Bob and Bobbie gave them both strong roots along with the freedom to fly their wings.

Bob, Bobbie, Elizabeth and Clay Wesson — taken from Bobbie’s Facebook page.

Steve and I were landing in Ecuador to begin serving as missionaries the month that tragedy struck Bobbie. She had a massive stroke that greatly impaired her mobility and her speech. I heard about all of it via emails from friends back in Hartselle and remember adding my prayers to all of theirs. Her condition was very grave. It was a miracle she survived.

I only heard stories about Bobbie’s long, hard battles to regain some semblance of normalcy. It must have taken ENORMOUS determination and drive on her part to relearn the skills of walking and talking — even to the limited extent she was able to manage them. Yet, I must admit that the first time I saw Bobbie when we came back, I was shocked at the toll the stroke had taken on her physically. For 17 years more, she lived with the after-effects of that stroke, but all of us who knew Bobbie consider those 17 years as a gift.

Steve and I moved back to Hartselle in the summer of 2017, so I had the true pleasure of being around Bobbie again for two more years. Those years with Bobbie made a difference to me — just as the years she had with so many others must have mattered to them.

Every time I saw her walking into church, I was reminded to walk straighter and without complaining about any small aches or pains. It must have taken a Herculean effort for Bob and for Bobbie to get her ready every Sunday. Yet they were there consistently and faithfully. My efforts before arriving were pitiful in comparison.
Watching Bob’s patient, loving, kind care for Bobbie meant the world to me. What a stunning example of selflessness. It gave me hope that I could one day do something like that for Steve or him for me if our situations ever called for such care. Bob, if you’re reading this, you were (and still are) an unmatched role model for all of us.
I was in Bobbie’s home this summer, and she was in mine — thanks to the summer house church events that we have. We both fretted some over how many people to expect and what we might serve for supper. She chose chicken salad croissants, and I chose stuffed potatoes. Yes, Bob and her neighbor Susie helped a lot, but Bobbie was a gracious hostess, clearly happy to have all of us in her home. Again, a role model for me. She did what she could without complaining and with a generous, kind, gentle spirit.
Because Bob was in the same Sunday School class we attended, when the class went out for lunch once a month, Bobbie joined us. While Steve and Bob talked about Auburn, Bobbie and I talked about our children and grandchildren. She never failed to ask me about my children and marveled with me about the number of grandchildren I had. She was SO VERY HAPPY when precious Charlize was born and wanted so much to be a part of her life. My own mother died when my children were very young. Both Bobbie and my mom are clear reminders to me to treasure every time I’m with my grands and to invest in making memories.
Bobbie’s words were kind and affirming. I never heard her utter a negative comment. It was sometimes frustrating (mostly for Bobbie, I’m sure) to wait until she could get out the words she wanted to say, but EVERY TIME, it was worth waiting for. This morning I’m just wishing I had another time to sit and talk with her. I wouldn’t be in a hurry. I’d just want to wait . . . and listen . . . and soak in her kindness.

I am just one of hundreds who were blessed by the life of Bobbie Wesson and will miss her presence and her example of goodness and courage.

I believe Bobbie understood these verses better than almost anyone:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:12-13

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

10 Fears with 10 Responses

09/27/2019 By: CCPearson1 Comment

I really enjoy following Thom Rainer, former CEO of Lifeway and now church researcher/consultant/expert, etc. etc. He knows a lot, and he has studied churches and church people a LOT. Recently on his website — https://thomrainer.com, he shared an article by Chuck Lawless entitled “Ten Fears For The American Church.” Lawless created his list after visiting with many international missionaries. Having been a missionary myself, this list and his conclusions really resonated with me. In bold print, you’ll find his fears, and underneath you’ll see my thoughts.

I fear we go through the motions without really experiencing God’s presence. Yes. The times I have had personal quiet times or sat in worship services are too numerous to count, but the times I have really experienced God’s presence during those quiet times or worship services could likely be narrowed down to less than 100. When I ask myself “why,” the answers (and convictions) come flooding in.
I fear we get too hung up on things that don’t matter nearly as much as we think. Amen, and amen again. Put your weapons down, people. The worship wars are over. All instruments can be used for praising God, and any lyrics that are scripturally-based are good, useful and edifying. And, “the way things used to be done?” Don’t even get me started. Let’s do whatever it takes to bring more people into the Kingdom of God.
I fear we think too lightly about persecution. I’ve seen families have their water source cut off when they became Christians in Ecuador, and a woman who let us inside her home to share the Gospel in South Korea was then accused by her neighbors and family of letting evil spirits come in. Then, there are our children and grandchildren in schools today, trying with every ounce of sincerity they can muster to live Christ-like lives. Many of them facing teasing and bullying.
I fear we think we’re the most important church people in the world. We are just as important to God BUT NOT MORE IMPORTANT TO GOD than church people in every country on earth. We definitely have more resources, but so many others do so much more with far less.
I fear we think too little about Bible study and scripture memorization. I remember the illiterate women in Kenya who sat on benches under a tree listening to Bible stories and drinking in every word. Many had walked for miles to get there and several had babies on their backs. When questions were asked at the end of a study, they not only knew the answers, their hearts understood the applications.
I fear we have little idea what power there is in prayer. In South Korea, we witnessed church people who came together at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning to pray FOR HOURS before going to work. When I remember those people, I understand why there has been such a tremendous growth of Christianity in their country. My short, hastily-spoken “God bless ______” or “Please help ________” are words heard by God but lacking in the power they could have.
I fear we tolerate sin far too much. Turn on the TV and in less than 15 minutes, it’s there. Go to a non-church function involving groups of people. The words, actions, attitudes quickly observed are sinful practices that have been absorbed into our culture. And, yes, those include vulgar, distasteful cheers at football games. Tide and Tigers, I’m looking at you.
I fear we’re not providing enough practical training for young ministers and missionaries. Before Steve and I went to Ecuador, we went through 7 weeks of training at the Missionary Learning Center near Richmond, Virginia, but we were both in our 50’s, had been Christians since we were children and in church long before that. Some of the missionary trainees were still in their 20’s. They desperately needed mature mentors before going on the field, while they were there and after they returned. No doubt about it.
I fear we sometimes get in the way of missionaries on our short-term trips. Yes. Yes. Yes. SEVERAL times while we were on the field, we were in the throes of language study, culture acquisition or relationship building, and groups from the U.S. came with their own agendas demanding/expecting our time, attention and help with no plans to respect us, to listen to what we needed from them or to get out of their comfort zones. It was really appalling. By the same token, after we’d been there awhile and were able to recruit specific teams for specific assignments that fit with our strategy, volunteers were extremely helpful and encouraging. Attitude is everything.
I fear we don’t pray enough for missionaries. The prayer support we received from our prayer partners was absolutely VITAL to our survival. I can give many examples of near-disasters that were avoided, and we knew those were the results of praying people. I encourage you to get to know several missionaries and seek to understand their specific needs, then be faithful in lifting those needs to the Father Who will hear and answer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing.”

2 Timothy 2:15 — “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

I’m so glad I had teachers to teach me and the motivation to memorize those 2 verses as a child.

What are your thoughts about the 10 fears listed by Chuck Lawless?

A Chance to “Do Unto Others” What Others “Did Unto Me”

09/20/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Between the summer of 1998 and Christmas of 1999, the original Pearson 5 went into Wedding Marathon Mode. Yes. All three Pearson children got married between August 1, 1998 and December 18, 1999. It required notebook upon notebook of appointments, decisions and plans . . . and Steve would add lots of checks being written. Gulp!

In addition to choosing dresses, cakes, music, reception food, flowers, invitation styles and a million other details, both girls had their receptions at our house (requiring major landscaping work), and our son got married in Birmingham the week before Christmas. Whoa!!!

I believe that all three couples got what they were hoping for out of their special days, and my mind only brings back a few hiccups after all these years. But, what I’m thinking about today are all of the friends who contributed to the merriment with prenuptial parties and TONS of beautiful gifts.

There were engagement parties, bridal teas, family recipe parties, tea towel showers, tool and gadget barbecues, a Christmas brunch, kitchen showers, linen showers, bridesmaids luncheons and even a Sip ‘n See where friends were invited to come, drink a refreshing summer drink and oohh and aahhh over all of the pretty presents. Our friends were the ones who hosted these events, and they showered Steve and me with love and generosity, as well as our children. We were overwhelmed with their hard work and willingness to invest in our children’s happy times during those months. If you’re reading this, you know who you are. Please know how much I still treasure all you did in those months for our children.

Tonight a couple of friends and I are hosting a shower for a dear friend’s daughter. It feels really good to do for someone else — even if it’s just in a small way — what others did for me. The other hostesses and I have known the bride’s Mom and Dad for at least 40 years. We love the family dearly and hope we can make their daughter feel special.

The New International Version sums up Matthew 7:12 like this:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

The Message paraphrase puts it this way:

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”

When Jesus gave us that command, He knew what an extraordinary environment it would create and how fulfilled we would be as a result of following it. As is true of everything He asked us to do, it was/IS for our own good.

I suppose I’m doing things backwards, in that I’m “doing for others” what was already “done for me.” So let’s just say that I still remember and appreciate (over 20 years later) how wonderful it felt to be the recipient of actions that demonstrated love, and I’m looking forward to pouring love on someone else tonight.

With ALL My Heart? Learning from a Braves Game

09/13/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

My Silver Fox and I enjoy following the Atlanta Braves baseball team. ESPECIALLY this year. Los Bravos are 8 games up in the East Division. Woohoo! That’s baseball speak for they are doing well, very well.

We sit in our preferred spots after supper at night and gaze at our embarrassingly large TV watching our favorites come up to bat. Freddie Freeman has been earning every penny of his $55 million net worth (at least in terms of the Atlanta Braves franchise) with his consistent hits and astonishing plays as the first baseman. Ronald Acuna, Jr. is the lead-off hitter for good reason. That boy knows how to get on base! Ozzie Albies is fun to watch. Dansby Swanson is easy on the eyes (ha), and Josh Donaldson has recently emerged as a heavy hitter.

Most nights we watch a few minutes of the Braves game, turn to an episode of something on Netflix, check the score of any football game that is remotely interesting, tune in to any late-breaking news, then switch back to the Braves. We stay cool, comfortable and have a snack or two within a few steps if we get the munchies. 🙂

Last week a much-anticipated trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina was cancelled because of Hurricane Dorian. I was disappointed and itching to go SOMEWHERE, so we decided to go watch our Braves in person.

I researched the best available seats IN THE SHADE, expecting a very warm night, and found some just a few feet past the first base line on a lower level with a great view of the entire ballpark. We spent quite a bit on tickets and a parking pass. (I’ll have to confess the amount before Steve sees the credit card bill. Gulp!) We drove to the stadium (after a delightful detour to Rome, Georgia to hug on some folks), found our designated parking lot and made our way into Sun Trust Park. What an impressive venue!!

Another “gulp” was spending $26 for 2 bottled waters, a hot dog and a serving of chicken and waffles (pretty unusual fare for a baseball stadium, don’t you think?).

It happened to be “Los Bravos Night” where they recognized the Atlanta Braves personnel from Latin American countries, thus lots of salsa music. 🙂 We got close up shots of some of our favorites during warm-ups and watched an exciting game with the Braves winning 4 to 3 over the Washington Nationals. To add to the merriment, the Friday night home game meant a big fireworks show. This particular show was choreographed to fit some of the most popular Latin hits. It was great!

Then, we joined the throngs leaving the stadium, walking to our cars and maneuvering through traffic (LOTS of traffic). We drove for about an hour, found a hotel, collapsed in bed, got up, had breakfast and made our way back home.

When we watch games at home, we don’t suffer a minute of discomfort (unless they have an “off” night and get hopelessly behind). But, when we went to Atlanta to watch the Braves in person, we had to quite literally “put skin in the game” — time, effort, discomfort (traffic, heat, lots of walking, less than plush seats) and, of course, MONEY.

We can casually say, “We love to watch the Braves.” But last week we said, in effect, “We love to watch the Braves enough to invest ourselves in going to a game.”

As often happens, a spiritual application came to my mind. How easily I say to myself and others, “I love God.” But what would it look like for me to truly love Him with ALL my heart, soul and strength? To really put skin into the focused act of loving God? I understand the concept when it comes to Steve, the kids and the grandkids. I am completely willing to put heart, energy, time and money into demonstrating my wholehearted love for them, but what about in my relationship to God?

Deuteronomy 6:5 — ” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

ALL your heart. ALL your soul. ALL your strength.

In Matthew 22:38, Jesus called it the first and the greatest commandment. So, why do I continue to wrestle with what that means in terms of everyday living? Is there a gap between loving God and loving Him with ALL my heart? If so, what needs to change in my life to authentically and absolutely fulfill that commandment?

More time spent in His word? More willingness to live with Christlike attitudes, thoughts, words? More sacrificial acts of service? More money given to Kingdom causes? More preparation of my heart before entering times of worship?

Or maybe it’s not a matter of more, more, more. Maybe it’s an issue of intentionality and becoming conscious of the motives in my heart.

That’s what I’ve been pondering this week. I’d love to read your thoughts.

Cartersville, Georgia and Lottie Moon

09/06/2019 By: CCPearson8 Comments

Growing up as a Southern Baptist and continuing in that denomination for almost 70 years now, I thought I knew a lot about Lottie Moon. But, last week I learned she has a strong tie to Cartersville, Georgia and that the townspeople are very proud of their connection to her.

Within a few minutes of my time with a group of writers and tourism representatives in Cartersville, the person most closely tied to the town said, “Is anyone here a Baptist?” My quick response was, “Yes, I’m a life-long Southern Baptist, tried and true!” She then said, “So, I suppose you’ve heard of Lottie Moon.”

I absolutely have, and it pleases me to know that non-Baptists also acknowledge the great work she did.

Lottie (whose given name was Charlotte Digges Moon) was born in 1840 to wealthy parents. Their wealth allowed her to have a fine education which far exceeded most women of the day. She was actually one of the first women to receive a Master of Arts degree from a southern school. She exhibited a real flair for languages and knew Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian, which certainly helped her later when she needed to become fluent in Chinese.

Lottie is most noted for the nearly 40 years she served in China as a single, female missionary, teaching, evangelizing and so devoting herself to the people that she often starved herself in order to give her own food to them during times of famine. She died on Christmas Eve in 1912, weighing only 50 pounds because of this starvation.

Her connection to Cartersville, Georgia was short but significant. She and a friend, Anna Safford, moved there and opened the Cartersville Female High School in 1871. She also contributed to the ministry of First Baptist Church in Cartersville by helping poor families. It was in Cartersville that she acknowledged God’s call on her life, succeeded in being appointed as a missionary by the Baptist convention and left for China in 1873. Cartersville has a plaque acknowledging her importance on the Fence of Fame near the town’s historic depot, a book about her life is for sale in the Bartow History Museum, and there are displays at the First Baptist Church that I am eager to return and see. It was, after all, that church which first gathered offerings with her name attached to support her work in China.

Plaque chronicling the impact of Lottie Moon hung on the Fence of Fame in downtown Cartersville.

It is very fitting that the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual offering to support international missionaries is named for Lottie Moon. My husband and I were supported by this very offering during our four years in Ecuador. Approximately 5000 missionaries are sharing the Gospel in foreign countries each year thanks to this offering.

“Send the Light” a book about Lottie Moon in the gift shop of the Bartow History Museum in Cartersville.

This tiny woman — 4′ 3″ tall — made a huge difference when she was alive and still inspires us today.

She believed these verses and followed the command of Jesus —

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

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