God Continues to Teach Me Archives - Page 7 of 15

A Legacy of Love

08/24/2018 By: CCPearson10 Comments

The dictionary defines legacy as “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.” Synonyms for the word include: inheritance, heritage, gift, birthright.

A cousin was going through old family photos a few months ago and uncovered this one. I never knew it existed, but it has become one of my special treasures. It represents to me the most important legacy my parents left for me.

Tom and Mildred Collier, June 1949.

These are my parents on their honeymoon. Look how young and happy they were. They were married very early on a Sunday morning in the doorway of the new sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Athens, AL on June 19, 1949. The sanctuary wasn’t quite finished yet, but they wanted to have the distinction of being the first couple married there. And that’s how they came to get their names in the cornerstone. 🙂

After the very short, simple ceremony in front of a few family members and friends, they started driving to the Gulf of Mexico, no doubt to see those waves and that sand for the very first time. They stopped in Mobile to see my dad’s brother Joe and his wife Sarah (who no doubt were the ones who took the photo). Obviously, they were eager to put their toes in the water. Notice the rolled up pants legs and the hiked up skirt.

They both came from very poor backgrounds. My dad’s parents were sharecroppers in Limestone County. He told stories of selling watermelons on the square in Athens on Saturdays. My mother’s father was a barber in the town who made $9 a week and never owned a car. “Mr. Clarence,” as everyone called him, walked to work, to church, to the grocery store, etc. and was a familiar sight in town — so much so, that often people pulled over to offer him a ride. He sang tenor in the church choir and famously slept through many sermons.

They had very little in terms of material possessions, but this photo reminds me of their love for each other. I was born almost exactly 11 months later. Here, 69+ years after the photo, it still gives me validation, assurance and a peaceful settled feeling to know that my parents adored each other.

In a blog post from 2015, Joe Sturniolo wrote:

Chuck Swindoll on his Insight for Living radio show talked about a survey of eighty-five-year-old people as they entered the twilight of life.

They were asked what they regretted most about the way they had lived.

The seniors said:

I would have spent more time reflecting in meditation and contemplation.
I would have risked more.
I would have done more things that would live on after I die.

The third response captured my attention because I think a lot about my family legacy. I don’t want to leave behind just my regrets. I want to leave a meaningful legacy that matters.

The third response resonates with me, too. I would have done more things that would live on after I die. How grateful I am that so many evidences of my parents’ love for each other continue to live on, even now that they are both in heaven.

How does that motivate me? Three actions I want to carry out — 1) Demonstrating my love for Steve in front of the kids and grandkids. 2) Hugging, affirming and giving unconditional love to all of them. 3) Modeling a consistent Christian life.

Proverbs 13:22 — “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children . . .”

Psalm 37:18 — “The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.”

1 John 4:7 — “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

A Wise Woman Saves the Day!

08/17/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

She’s almost invisible, tucked away in the pages of 2 Samuel. (2 Samuel 20:15-22, to be exact). I confessed to a recent Sunday School class I taught that I had read through the Bible on numerous occasions and had 68 years worth of sermons under my belt, but somehow this woman’s contribution seemed new to me. Yet, there it was. I love it when a woman is the heroine of a story in the Bible.

The setting was this: Joab and his army were besieging the city of Abel, trying to scale and dismantle the protective wall, in order to reach Sheba who was stirring up traitorous intentions toward King David. Sheba had declared that the people of Israel (meaning the 10 tribes in the northern part of the land) had no reason to follow and support David. He was mad at the people of Judah (representing the 2 southern tribes), and he wanted to cause their demise.

The residents of Abel were innocent. Their city had a solid reputation for doing good. Yet, they were going to suffer huge losses if something didn’t happen. Enter The Wise Woman.

¹⁵When Joab and his men came to Abel Beth Maacah, they surrounded the town. They piled dirt up against the city wall and began breaking stones out of the wall to make it fall down.

¹⁶But there was a very wise woman in that city who shouted out to them and said, “Listen to me! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk with him.”

¹⁷Joab went to talk with the woman. She asked him, “Are you Joab?”

Joab answered, “Yes, I am.”

Then the woman said, “Listen to me.”

Joab said, “I am listening.”

¹⁸Then the woman said, “In the past people would say, ‘Ask for help in Abel and you will get what you need.’ ¹⁹I am one of many peaceful, loyal people in this town. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why do you want to destroy something that belongs to the Lord?”

²⁰Joab answered, “I don’t want to destroy anything. I don’t want to ruin your city. ²¹But there is a man in your city from the hill country of Ephraim. He is named Sheba son of Bicri. He rebelled against King David. Bring him to me, and I will leave the city alone.”

The woman said to Joab, “All right. His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”

²²Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it over the city wall to Joab.

So Joab blew the trumpet and the army left the city. The soldiers went home, and Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

Nowhere in the passage do we learn her name . . . or age . . . or economic status . . . or level of education.

We can deduce that she had earned a reputation for saying and doing wise things in the past.

She realized that her own life was about to be threatened along with all those she loved and cared about.

She got in a position to be heard.

She identified the person who could make a difference – Joab.

She asked him to listen to her. (How many times have we said to our husbands or children, “Are you listening to me?”)

She got to the root of the problem while defending the reputation of her city and its citizens.

She understood what the solution had to be and convinced the townspeople to carry out the solution.

Yes, the “solution” was gruesome, but, without a doubt, that one act saved the lives of hundreds, maybe even thousands.

I want to be a wise woman, don’t you? I want to have a track record for making wise decisions and speaking words of wisdom. I want to have good communication skills. I want to defuse potentially explosive situations. I want those around me to live in peace.

I’m so glad I got a chance to encounter this woman while studying God’s Word. I believe I’ll remember her from now on.

Cousins Camp 2018: Blessings We Can’t Take for Granted

08/03/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

The 11th Annual Pearson Cousins Camp ended last Saturday, July 28th, and once again, the prayers of our children and friends, coupled with our own fervent prayers, were answered for a successful week together. Here are some special blessings that I want to praise God for in particular:

WE STAYED SAFE AND HEALTHY. Believe me when I say that this first one is not to be taken lightly. After all, we were in the pool everyday, we cooked everyday, and we were on the highways everyday. One afternoon, we (meaning THEY) were even jumping on trampolines! At the end of the week, I had only applied ONE Bandaid (for a tiny scrape on an arm that was only detectable by the child requesting the Bandaid), and I had not administered a single dose of medicine. Since the memories are still fresh of 1) the 2nd Cousins Camp when Nathan tumbled head first down a flight of metal stairs less than 30 minutes after his arrival and spent the rest of the week with a black and blue face, 2) the 3rd Cousins Camp when Seth ran a high fever and his parents were in ZAMBIA, and 3) the 10th Cousins Camp when Luke barfed all over the kitchen floor right in front of Allie who is absolutely paranoid about throwing up — just trust me, Steve and I will never fail to be extra grateful when we go through an entire week without injury or illness. Thank you, God.
WE MADE MORE MEMORIES AND FORMED YET ANOTHER LAYER OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. At the end of our time together, we always have new “sayings,” new buzz words, new inside jokes, new songs that last us for months and become part of our Cousins Camp lore. If you see one of the children in the coming months, ask them to name a few. I have no doubt you’ll be entertained.
WE HAD AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA TO A LADY FROM BOSTON. While visiting Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham on our first full day together, we were all wearing our Hartselle Tigers t-shirts, and I was explaining about what life was like in Birmingham in the 1950’s and 60’s, when Granddaddy and I were their ages. We were standing near the 16th Avenue Baptist Church where 4 young girls were killed by a bomb in 1963, and I was trying to help them understand about the sculptures depicting attack dogs, policemen and children in jail. They had a hard time understanding a period in history when such things took place. Instinctively, they knew it was wrong to treat fellow humans in such a way. A lady standing nearby came over and wanted to know what kind of group we were. When we explained that we were a family and these were our grandchildren, she was completely intrigued. Those few minutes of watching and listening appeared to change her perception of people in Alabama and how they felt about those events. She was so glad to know that we were ashamed and sorry that such things had taken place. She went on to explain that she was from Boston, but her daughter was in school at UAB. I believe God put us in her path to give her some reassurances. You just never know when someone is watching and listening. A great lesson for the kids . . . and a good reminder for me.
WE LEARNED VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS THROUGH FREE PLAY TIME AND THROUGH OUR FIELD TRIPS (which we like to call “Mystery Trips”). In short order, the grands themselves saw that the new pool table would need some kind of “system” to make playing time fair. Luke, the cousin organizer, quickly asked for paper and pen and drew up a kind of tournament-type schedule. Steve and I didn’t have to intervene. Everyone was satisfied. At the end of the week, we visited Ivy Green, the childhood home of Helen Keller and learned her story. The visit made an impression that led to some very meaningful discussions later. While bowling, we saw Nathan and Rosemary emerge as high scorers, but at Top Golf, Seth was clearly more skilled. Doing crafts revealed others with particular acumen with their hands. The lesson was that everyone is good at SOMETHING, but no one is good at EVERYTHING. You get the idea. Learning occurred in practically everything we did. When you’re a teacher at heart, that makes for a feeling of success and accomplishment.
WE DELIGHTED IN EACH CHILD’S PERSONALITY AND TALENTS.
Allie after climbing all the steps both up and down at the Vulcan. She will graduate from high school next May. Her maturity is increasing by leaps and bounds.

Luke at the top of the Vulcan. We enjoy Luke’s ventriloquism and very busy brain. He’s now the tallest cousin.

Nathan good-naturedly posing with his artwork.
Nathan loves sports of all kinds. This week he excelled in swimming and bowling.

Seth cheesing it up for the camera. Seth jumped for joy when he heard we were going to Top Golf.

Margaret with her carefully-planned button craft. She played the piano for us on several occasions.

Birti so excited that we were in an Ethiopian restaurant. We discovered she’s very skilled at doing hairstyles for her girl cousins.

Megan sporting her braided hair. Megan is learning to speak up more and express her opinions.

Penelope about to enjoy a game of pool. She’s an avid reader. Her mischievous ways seem to be becoming more fun-filled.

Rosemary with an extra-toothy grin. She has an unique ability to get along with everyone and is very resilient.

Sam looking out on Birmingham. He does a great job of keeping up with the older guys and is quite a natural athlete.

Bethany with her button craft. She is becoming increasingly independent. Her self-confidence and spiritual awareness are both growing rapidly.
THE GRANDCHILDREN EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE. The smiles, laughter and hugs are reward enough, but when you go back in the bedrooms after they’ve left and find handwritten thank-you notes, it is an unbelievable blessing. When your teenage grandson calls you “TheBomb.com,” it is taken as the highest possible praise.

Monday’s post will outline some of the week’s activities, and next Friday we’ll take a look at Cousins Camp Challenges. Also, a book is in the works with philosophy, suggestions, and recipes for present and future grandparents who are thinking of hosting their own version of Cousins Camp. But, for today, let me continue to thank God for His provision and protection while we were together last week.

Psalm 75:1 – “We give thanks to Thee, O God, we give thanks, for Thy name is near, Men declare Thy wondrous works.”

Psalm 89:1 – “I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth.”

Billy Graham STILL Has an Impact

06/01/2018 By: CCPearson1 Comment

We almost missed it. On a recent trip to various locations in North and South Carolina, our itinerary was filled with addresses of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. My head was spinning with all we’d be seeing and doing, but Steve remembered something that I had forgotten. Billy Graham was from Charlotte, N.C., and that’s where we were spending the night. We realized that a short window of opportunity would be open the next morning before we drove to Asheville, N.C. and found that the Billy Graham Library was only about 15 minutes from our hotel. I’m so very glad we had a chance to visit.

Billy Graham Library main building.

As a born-again Christian since I was 8 years old, Billy Graham’s name, face, and ministry have filled my consciousness my whole life. I am just one of the 215 million people in 185 countries that Mr. Graham preached to in his lifetime. In the 99 years of his life, his sermons carried one central message — Jesus Christ is the only way to God because the Bible tells us so.

Billy Graham preaching to the people of the world.

Representatives of various people groups who heard Billy Graham preach.

The Billy Graham Library is located, appropriately so, right off of Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte. The dedication was held on May 31, 2007, with three former U.S. Presidents in attendance (Bush 41, Clinton and Carter). He was, after all, referred to as “Pastor to the Presidents” and met with all of them going back to Harry Truman.

Right before he preached.

Billy Graham with John F. Kennedy.

Billy Graham with President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.

The staff and website are quick to tell you that this is not a memorial or a museum but a ministry. And, I got to see that in action for myself. The grounds are beautifully-maintained, and the atmosphere is one of peace and tranquility with beautiful Christian music playing the moment you get out of your car. The exhibits and multimedia presentations follow a logical and well-planned order, constantly pointing people to Jesus. And, as I fully expected, there was a Gospel invitation given at the end with trained counselors on hand to answer questions and to pray with those who wanted help.

I loved the attention the Library gave to Billy’s wife Ruth. She died in 2007 after they had been married for 64 years. She was the one who stayed behind rearing the couple’s 5 children while Billy traveled all over the world preaching. Her commitment to his ministry was every bit as strong as his was. (They had 19 grandchildren, a fact that I, as a grandmother to 13, carefully noted).

Ruth Bell Graham’s engagement ring, their wedding invitation and cake topper.

The burial sites of both Billy and Ruth were very special, as were those of Cliff Barrows and his wife and George Beverly Shea. Their music was essential to the success of countless crusades. (Just as a side note, my uncle George Rose was a gifted singer who was often compared to George Beverly Shea. He admired the man so much that he named his son George Beverly Rose. We called him “Bev.”)

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministry Team

George Beverly Shea. One of his most requested songs was “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”

Graves of Billy and Ruth Graham.

Graves of Cliff Barrows, his wife and George Beverly Shea.

Steve and I left with uplifted hearts. This ministry is done in an excellent way. Admission is free. I recommend it highly. You will also find Billy’s boyhood home on the grounds, as well as a bookstore and a very clean and attractive cafe.

Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.” Can you just imagine the thousands that were standing at the gates of heaven to welcome the man who had preached Jesus to them and helped them find salvation and eternal life?

The Endless Ripple Effects of “Passing It On”

05/25/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

PASS IT ON

By Kurt Kaiser

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That’s how it is with God’s love;
Once you’ve experienced it, you want to sing
“It’s fresh like spring”; you want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I’ve found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountaintop – PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.

When so-called contemporary Christian music began to appear on the scene in the late 1960’s/early 70’s, this song by Kurt Kaiser was one of the most popular ones. With its decidedly evangelistic message, it was a natural choice for youth
retreats and invitation times at the end of worship services. It was intended to motivate believers to boldly share
their faith.
The idea of “passing it on” is a very positive and effective one in the secular world as well. So much good can be done
for humanity if an individual who RECEIVES a blessing turns around and BECOMES a blessing to someone else. The ripple effects are endless.
During a recent visit to Oxford, Mississippi, I toured Rowan Oak, the family home of highly-acclaimed and prolific
writer, William Faulkner.

The next day I visited a popular store in the downtown square called Square Books. That
very afternoon a book-signing was being held at the children’s book branch of Square Books called Square Books Jr.
for this book and its author. I was scheduled to leave before the signing began, but I decided to buy the book anyway,
knowing that I have a host of grandchildren who love to read.

The message of the book is powerful. A black man named Earnest McEwen, Jr. had an insatiable desire to read and to learn and who longed to attend college. He got a job as a janitor at Ole Miss, and several professors noticed that he
arrived early and stayed late to devour any books that he could find. Those professors were acquaintances of William Faulkner’s. William Faulkner sent a message to the young man to come out to Rowan Oak for a visit. Earnest (Ernie) nervously did so.

William Faulkner told him he wanted to make his dream of a college education come true, and Ernie was able to enroll at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. The story is beautifully told by Ernie’s daughter, Gloria J. McEwen Burgess. Gloria and her four sisters caught their father’s desire for education. Three now have doctoral degrees. One is a social worker. Gloria herself is a therapist and a pastor. All are using their educations to benefit hundreds of others. Faulkner’s generosity has already had far-reaching effects.

Each of us has received blessings upon blessings from God. Now (I’m asking myself as well as you), how are we using
those blessings to bless others?
God said to Abram in Genesis 12:2 – “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing.”
Proverbs 11:25 – “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”

Reconciliation: The Message and the Ministry

05/18/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – “¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to teach Sunday School with the above Scripture as the focal passage. As is always the case, I learned FAR MORE than I taught, and I had lots of time to ruminate on those verses. The two highlighted phrases really jumped to the forefront in my mind as I pondered the text.

We, who are IN CHRIST, know and have received the “message of reconciliation.” In other words, we understand what Jesus did on the cross for us, so that our relationship with God could be restored — the relationship that had been broken because of our sin. Now, as “Christ’s ambassadors,” it is our job to share that message with others, thus making it our “ministry of reconciliation.”

Reconciliation, of course, involves both vertical and horizontal relationships. Us with God and us with those around us. When we accept Christ as Savior, we become “new creations.” This passage also states that “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” In other words, we need to see them through God’s eyes. Surely when we do that, the hate/criticism/bitterness/prejudices of the past can go away, and love/acceptance/understanding can appear instead.

Verse 21 is what Chris Tomlin used in the opening of his song “Jesus Messiah.” It’s one of my favorite praise and worship songs. Let these words be a blessing and an encouragement to you today.

He became sin, who knew no sin
That we might become his righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

His body the bread, his blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn
Love so amazing, how can it be? Your love’s so amazing, yeah

Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

all I hope is in you, all I hope is in you
All the glory to you, God, the light of the world

All I hope is in you (no one else), all I hope is in you
All the glory to you, God, (you are) the light of the world

Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
You’re the lord of all
You’re the lord of all

Filling the House with Scripture

05/11/2018 By: CCPearson3 Comments

As the floors, then the roof, then the interior walls have taken shape in our new house, I have started prayerwalking the rooms and halls. I imagine and then pray for the people who will come through the front door, the people who will sit in our living room or family room or those who we’ll share meals with around the kitchen table, in the dining room or around the bar in the kitchen. I can already see the faces, hear the laughter, feel the hugs and smell the food cooking on the stove.

As I’ve selected paint colors, light fixtures, cabinet styles and the million or so other decisions that go into putting a house together, various Scripture verses and passages have come to mind. Our plan is to have grandchildren inscribe their own favorite verses into the subflooring — a symbolic way to infuse the house and its foundation with the Word. As that happens in the coming weeks, I’ll add photos to this post. But, for now, here are some verses that various rooms bring to mind:

ENTRANCE –

Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Luke 10:38 – “Now as they were traveling along, He (Jesus) entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.”

1 Peter 4:9 – “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

Romans 13:10 – “Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

Matthew 25:35 – “I (Jesus) was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

LIVING ROOM, FAMILY ROOM, BACK PORCH –

Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Proverbs 17:27 – “He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine”

Proverbs 15:13 – “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face”

Proverbs 15:15 – “for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”

Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

KITCHEN, DINING ROOM, PICNIC TABLE –

John 6:35 – “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Acts 2:46-47 – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Nehemiah 8:10 – “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

MASTER BEDROOM –

Ephesians 4:2-3 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 3:22 – “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.”

Ephesians 3:25-28 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

Colossians 3:18-19 – “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”

LAUNDRY ROOM (would also work with showers and bathtubs) –

Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.”

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Hebrews 10:22 – “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

I’d love to have your help. Share some more verses with me. I know there must be dozens for each category.

I would also recommend that you prayerwalk the rooms of your own home — new, not-so-new, rented, shared, a cabin, a condo, an apartment, a mobile home, a motorhome, a bungalow or a mansion. Those of us who are in Christ desire to be surrounded in the Truth, and wherever we “dwell,” He is with us.

As it turned out, daughter Laura and her two came to visit for a few days. Not surprisingly, they each had their own ideas for verses to contribute to the floor.

Megan wanted to add the fruit of the Spirit to the kitchen — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23

Nathan added Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

All three are hard at work in the Family Room.

Nathan added Psalm 1:1 to the boys room — “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”

Laura adds Psalm 34:8 to the dining room — “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Megan adds Proverbs 31:30 to the floor of the girls’ room. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Wow! It is such a blessing for the Word to be a deep part of their lives. What better Mother’s Day present could there be??

Thank you, Barbara Bush

05/04/2018 By: CCPearson6 Comments

My daughter Laura asked me not long ago, “Is it possible to end well?” Then she challenged me, “I would love to see an example of someone who really does a good job of that.” I’m pretty sure I know what she means. She wants to see her Momma stay positive, encouraging, maybe even entertaining and happy, until my last day. Some of that is within my control. Some of it isn’t. But Barbara Bush ended well, and I would love to do the same.

She loved and affirmed her husband for 73 years!!! Just two days before she died, she told someone who came into her room to go downstairs and “tell George how much I adore him.” And one day when they were both in the hospital, and he was looking (at least through the eyes of others) very unkempt and pathetic, Barbara looked at him and said, “Oh my. You are devastatingly handsome!” I love that. I need to up my game in terms of complimenting my Silver Fox.

Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” Former President George H.W. Bush most certainly “found a good thing” when he met and married Barbara.

She maintained such loving relationships with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that she was surrounded by them to the end, and many were honoring and serving her at her memorial service.

She had a cause she championed that mattered to OTHERS — literacy. She used her position as First Lady to support efforts to increase literacy but carried that on even after her White House years.

She was known for her honesty, her forthright comments, her discernment and her humor.

She was sure of her salvation. Her son Jeb shared at the funeral that during a conversation with his mom about death, she said, “I believe in Jesus. He’s my Savior. I know I’m going to a wonderful place.” What a testimony for the hundreds attending the service in person and for the millions who watched on TV.

Thank you for your incredible example, Barbara Bush.

In a sermon last week, our pastor preached from Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple.” Barbara Bush is right now dwelling in the house of the Lord, beholding the beauty of the Lord and meditating in His temple. I have that same request of the Lord.

LEARNING FROM PASSIONATE PEOPLE – Sherrel Jan Davis, Long-Time Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan

04/20/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Her first memory of watching a race with her father was in 1966 when she was only 6 years old. We can all do the math. Sherrel Jan Davis (known to all her friends as “Jan”) has been an ardent fan of racing, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway in particular, for almost 52 years! As a matter of fact, her daddy helped with preparing the land for the track back in 1958. She’s not one of those starstruck fans who clamor for selfies and autographs. No. In her words, she likes “good-looking men in fast cars who can drive 200 miles an hour and run a clean race.”

Jan Davis points out some of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s famous drivers.

Jan has been leading tours at the Speedway for 11 years, and I was lucky enough to ride with her on a tour just a few weeks ago. I admitted to her that I was “a blank slate” when it came to racing, and she was patient in answering my questions, full of facts, and extremely entertaining.

If you’re a movie buff and take a tour of the track and grounds, you might recognize places where scenes were filmed in “Zombieland,” “Hunger Games 2” and “Need for Speed.” Georgia offers a tax break for movie production companies, so more and more locations in our neighboring state are showing up on the big screen.

Jan put us in a van and drove our group (consisting of my daughter, my granddaughter, a man visiting from California and myself) under the grandstands. We got out and took an elevator to the corporate suite level. We got an up-close look at the Arris Suite (Arris is a telecommunications equipment company) which is right next door to Mr. Bruton Smith’s suite, so naturally, we peered in through the glass windows.

View of the track from a corporate suite.

Mr. Smith bought the track in 1990 when it was named Weaver Grandstand, changed the name to Atlanta Motor Speedway, invested $100 million and made it into the premier racing venue it is today. The Atlanta race is the second one on the NASCAR circuit every year, right behind Daytona. During that huge NASCAR weekend, the corporate suites are rented for $35,000 for the whole weekend, and the premium camping spots for motorhomes and the like go for $4000.

Jan let us feel the 24-degree banks in the quarter-mile turns at both a comfortably-fast speed and slower. Believe me, faster is better. 🙂

Getting the feel of those 24-degree turns.

She showed us Tara Place where 46 luxury condos are rented. I learned that there are people who enjoy racing so much they want to live near the track year-round. Wow! We also saw Tara Field, a small airfield where drivers can land their own planes. Jan laughingly shared, “Racers are very competitive people. They even race in their golf carts!” That makes sense when you hear that they can make the mile-and-a-half lap in only 30 seconds. Whoa.

Tour guide and long-time Atlanta Motor Speedway fan, Jan Davis.

She pointed out the In-Care Facility that is staffed and waiting in case of a wreck but told us that a driver wants to be able to crank his car and make it to Pit Road. Then he can continue to race. Above all, he doesn’t want to have to get in the ambulance, thus putting him out of the competition. Ricky Rudd even taped his eyelids open after an accident one day in order to keep racing. In Jan’s words: “These athletes mean it, girl. They MEAN it!”

We saw the statue of Richard Pettey who retired from this very track in 1992 after making 25,000 laps on this track alone. Certainly, that feat deserved a statue.

Richard Petty statue at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

I learned lots of terms, such as Pit Road, Bandelero Races, Legend Races, restrictor plates, Victory Lane, pole position and many more. In addition, Jan shared lots of facts about this track in particular, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. You really owe it to yourself to go and tour the facility in person. Lots of senior adult and church groups go, and they can accommodate large or small numbers of people.

I have lived all my life with practically no knowledge or understanding about a sport that hundreds of thousands are passionate about — probably none (other than the racers themselves) are as passionate as Jan Davis. She’s a delightful person. Go meet her.

Entrance to the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

And speaking of passions — What is YOUR passion? What is mine? What is it that I share with so much enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience that others will want to hear more and maybe get on board?

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. . . .”

LEARNING FROM PASSIONATE PEOPLE — Jim Joyce, Heritage Park Veterans Museum, McDonough GA

04/13/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

It’s natural to be a little bit skeptical when you plan a visit to a Veterans Museum with a child. Will they be bored? Will they be squirmy and anxious to leave? Will they be only interested in the souvenir shop and vending machines? Of course, it very much depends on the personality of the child involved, but during a recent visit to McDonough, GA, it was obvious that having a passionate, entertaining guide with a gift for story-telling can make all the difference in the world.

Last week, my daughter Laura, granddaughter Megan and I spent two days exploring the many attractions in Henry and Clayton Counties just south of Atlanta. We found some great surprises, but one Megan has continued to talk about was our time at the Heritage Park Veterans Museum in McDonough.

Jim Joyce, who is the Head Curator for the museum, was our guide. What a privilege it was to spend time with him and to learn about this place which is clearly a labor of love where he eagerly volunteers.

When the museum opened on Veterans Day in 2010, Jim recalls that they had only “5 glass display cases, 9 mannequins and 15 uniforms.” Now it has grown to a collection of more than 20,000 pieces spanning every war from World War I to the present and includes the Medals of Honor bestowed on two Henry County natives.

Rather than focusing on various wars or battles within those wars, this museum and the team of veteran volunteers who make up the staff choose to focus instead on the stories of individual soldiers whose memorabilia and artifacts are on display. Heroes come to life in unforgettable ways. Everything in the museum was either donated directly or is on long-term loan, meaning that no county or state funds support the project.

Many of the staff members, like Jim, served in combat and had multiple deployments. Jim even mentioned in passing the number of times he had jumped out of airplanes — I believe it was over 300!!! These men are “the real deal.” If you want to see Jim in action for yourself, I would recommend a visit in person, but you can also visit the website or click here to see the short video that Jim narrates.

Jim described to us the three main purposes the museum serves:

It is a PLACE FOR LEARNING. Schools plan field trips to the museum, because it is such a great teaching facility.
It is a PLACE FOR REVERANCE. Families come because they have relatives whose belongings are on display, and they need a place to reflect and remember.
It is a PLACE FOR HEALING. Those who served in our military have sacrificed a LOT for the rest of us, but at the same time, they saw and experienced tragic events and circumstances that are etched painfully in their minds. It helps to realize they are not alone. This is a place where they can shed tears if they need to and talk with others who have the same pain.

Jim is a gifted teacher. I especially appreciated the way he took time to explain displays to my granddaughter so that she would really “get it.” As I quietly quizzed her during the tour, she could often quote Jim back word for word.