Her name is Cookie. She stands tall at 4ft11inches. She wears a cap on her unkept head of hair and she always wears the same pink Tinkerbell sweatshirt. Her pants are too long and they are rolled up 4 or 5 times. When she smiles her teeth are far from perfect. Some teeth are missing and most are crooked. But when she smiles it is the most contagious smile. You can't help but smile back at her. She can be found at the Rifa Soup Kitchen on any given day eating lunch and talking to the others that frequent there. Everyday they have a devotional before lunch and it is optional for anyone interested in attending. She never misses a devotional. After she eats her meal she always sticks around to help sweep the floors or wipe down tables. This is her way of saying "thanks" for the meal.
A few weeks ago I was working at the soup kitchen and I got there early enough to attend the devotional. I was so touched to hear a testimony from a man who eats there often. I got to hear others tell of things they were struggling with and ask for prayers. We were all able to pray together and this was truly such an uplifting boost to my day. At the end of the devotional Cookie walked up to the podium (which was as tall as her) and she began to sing the most beautiful song. The voice that came from this petite woman was truly incredible. I had chills and I was convicted. Before this day I had always viewed Cookie as a woman small in stature, unemployed, unkept. I let my human eyes take over and on this day I was able to see a glimpse of Cookie the way God sees her. Beautiful, Radiant, and she has a HUGE job...a job to minister and witness to the people that she encounters everyday.
I left the soup kitchen that day feeling guilty for the judgement I had passed on this lady. I am reminded once again today that God uses all people and he doesn't view beauty or importance the way that I do. I am humbled by this lesson and I pray that everyday I will open my eyes more to see like Jesus sees and to love like Jesus loves.
Babbling Brooke
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Prayerful Marriage
When Brian and I were engaged we took a class called His Needs, Her Needs. We walked away from this class with tons of lessons and ideas that we wanted to implement in our own marriage. One of the biggest things that this class reiterates over and over is prayer time together as a couple. Several times while dating we prayed together but it was sporadic at best. During this class we committed to each other to do this together as often as we could.
Praying together brought on a new level of intimacy, it allowed me to know Brian and Brian to know me in a way that we hadn't in the 7 years we dated. It gave me a confidence in our relationship that I really cannot describe. As life went on we got married, lived in Memphis, I worked 60 hours a week and Brian was studying when he wasn't in school. The time that we made for each other was less about prayer and more about date nights, time with friends and so on. We prayed on occasion with each other especially if we had a big decision but for the most part my prayers were mine and Brian's prayers were his. We moved to Jackson almost 2 years ago and shortly after my dad got sick. This definitely brought us to our knees. We found each other praying together, crying out together for healing for understanding and at this time I felt that we as a unit were closer to God.
Since then we have kept the routine of praying together as a couple. Prayers of rejoicing, concerns and just to proclaim the love that we share for our heavenly Father. During our time of prayer we have prayed concerns that we might not otherwise talk about, we thank God for things that we thought the other didn't even notice. I have gotten to hear my husband pray the most precious prayers for this unborn little girl and I can promise you that prayer never gets old.
I say all this to say that date nights, quality time, communication they are all so important in a marriage but I am here saying that our marriage is at its best when we are praying to our heavenly Father together. It is a definite positive and I am so thankful that we were taught at a young age how wonderful it is.
Praying together brought on a new level of intimacy, it allowed me to know Brian and Brian to know me in a way that we hadn't in the 7 years we dated. It gave me a confidence in our relationship that I really cannot describe. As life went on we got married, lived in Memphis, I worked 60 hours a week and Brian was studying when he wasn't in school. The time that we made for each other was less about prayer and more about date nights, time with friends and so on. We prayed on occasion with each other especially if we had a big decision but for the most part my prayers were mine and Brian's prayers were his. We moved to Jackson almost 2 years ago and shortly after my dad got sick. This definitely brought us to our knees. We found each other praying together, crying out together for healing for understanding and at this time I felt that we as a unit were closer to God.
Since then we have kept the routine of praying together as a couple. Prayers of rejoicing, concerns and just to proclaim the love that we share for our heavenly Father. During our time of prayer we have prayed concerns that we might not otherwise talk about, we thank God for things that we thought the other didn't even notice. I have gotten to hear my husband pray the most precious prayers for this unborn little girl and I can promise you that prayer never gets old.
I say all this to say that date nights, quality time, communication they are all so important in a marriage but I am here saying that our marriage is at its best when we are praying to our heavenly Father together. It is a definite positive and I am so thankful that we were taught at a young age how wonderful it is.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
In the Blink of an Eye
It was one year ago today. Our good friends, Nick and Kristin, got a phone call that forever changed their lives. It was a phone call that has burned February 3rd in their hearts for the rest of their days. One minute it was their usual Wednesday, Nick at work and Kristin at school and in the blink of an eye their world was rocked and the days to follow would be the hardest of their entire life.
I was here at work when Kristin called to tell me the horrific news. Nick's brother, Matthew, was stationed in Germany and while doing a practice run in a helicopter he and 2 other soldiers were killed. The helicopter had crashed and just a few hours later those that loved Matthew the most experienced a crash of their own. True devastation, true heartbreak and true confusion.
There is a facebook page dedicated to Matthew's memory and yesterday his mother wrote this "Thursday, Feb.3, Matt will be gone a year. How can that be, it seems like it just happened today. I can still see those two soldiers, at my door. Matt will ever be a treasure, I hold so dear. Some memories bring laughter and some bring a tear. He will forever be in my heart."
It was a normal day. A boring Wednesday full of all the routine things we do on Wednesdays. Hitting snooze, hitting snooze again, getting up, getting dressed, driving to work. Only this Wednesday went from a normal Wednesday to a day full of awful news, devestating emotions and a sense of "how can this be?" It can happen in the blink of an eye. Life. It is not promised and it changes faster than we can imagine.
Today I ask that you pray for the Clark's. Pray for peace, comfort and understanding. I also ask that we all open our eyes to see the blessings that surround us. Hug those that we love tighter, say I love you more and take none of the gifts we have been given for granted. It can all change in the blink of an eye.
I was here at work when Kristin called to tell me the horrific news. Nick's brother, Matthew, was stationed in Germany and while doing a practice run in a helicopter he and 2 other soldiers were killed. The helicopter had crashed and just a few hours later those that loved Matthew the most experienced a crash of their own. True devastation, true heartbreak and true confusion.
There is a facebook page dedicated to Matthew's memory and yesterday his mother wrote this "Thursday, Feb.3, Matt will be gone a year. How can that be, it seems like it just happened today. I can still see those two soldiers, at my door. Matt will ever be a treasure, I hold so dear. Some memories bring laughter and some bring a tear. He will forever be in my heart."
It was a normal day. A boring Wednesday full of all the routine things we do on Wednesdays. Hitting snooze, hitting snooze again, getting up, getting dressed, driving to work. Only this Wednesday went from a normal Wednesday to a day full of awful news, devestating emotions and a sense of "how can this be?" It can happen in the blink of an eye. Life. It is not promised and it changes faster than we can imagine.
Today I ask that you pray for the Clark's. Pray for peace, comfort and understanding. I also ask that we all open our eyes to see the blessings that surround us. Hug those that we love tighter, say I love you more and take none of the gifts we have been given for granted. It can all change in the blink of an eye.
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