mouth math

As Bear, Keona, and Louie headed off for kid's church, Jonathan and I hobbled (I'm still in a shockingly large boot because of my broken foot) into the Realife building this past Sunday for the tween's service.

As usual, we sat in the back row reserved for staff. Each week they kindly allow us to camp there because they know that the music and the videos and the energy are sometimes too much for Jonathan. He may jump around for joy during worship or cover his ears when the music cranks up or shout out something sincere that's somehow slightly off cue. In the back row, we enjoy the service in a space where Jonathan can be himself without drawing attention to himself. It's always a special time for us to share.

The speaker this week quoted a word of wisdom he received early on from a pastor: "Make sure your words are always plus signs." He was speaking of how our words need to add something to each environment and aptly used Caleb as an example of someone whose words added something and drew people toward the promised land.

Jonathan--a sleeping math genuis--was intrigued, "So plus words add, minus words takes away, what do multplication words do?"

"Hmmn. Perhaps that's when our words multiply how many people are walking with Jesus," I offered.

"And division?" Jonathan wondered.

"Divisive words are those that cause unnecessary conflict between people," I suggested.

Then we both sat there and thought...about mouth math.

And perhaps is would be wise for me, and for us, to think a bit more. So I invite you to along with me think through all the words you spoke today. Did our words add truth? subtract esteem? multiply the faithful? divide the family?

Mouth math...that for better or for worse, is not easily erased.

Louie's gift

Today wasn't my best day. I'm fighting some sort of cough, sinus, sleepless, tiring...head cold. A quieter person by wiring, today requests sounded like demands and talking sounded like shouting...I'm looking forward to a healthier moment in the near future.

So tonight, Louie and I began our cuddle-time ritual. He chooses a book while I prepare his milk. I tuck him in, read the book in high drama, and we pray together. Then we're supposed to "close eyes an sleep!"

Louie, however, missed his normal cue. Instead he got up and pulled up a big blanket. Struggling to get it open he explained, "Mommy sicky. I tuck you," then he patiently wrestled with the thick quilt to get all the corners smoothed around his coughing Mommy.

As he took the top of the blanket and pulled it up over my neck, he concluded, "it's cold and the dogs are going poop."

I was laughing internally, crying externally. Not sure how it's all related but I heard one message clearly: I am loved.

(and I'm grateful the dogs are outside...)

air-time on the radio

A radio interview. A call-in. A comment that temporarily stunned me.

Click here to read my overdue response to a caller's statement regarding why I respect Atheists.

cuddle sandwich

At night, I'm often wonderfully sandwiched between Jonathan (age 12) and Keona (age 6) for cuddle-time before the kids drift off to sleep. Thought you'd like to listen in on our "conversation":

Jonathan: "I know, we need a huge battery and tall metal post to put out during storms. Then when lightning strikes, the battery can collect the energy."

Keona: "A boy pushed me in recess today and called me a name!"

Jonathan: "And why didn't God give us two breathing holes? This way we could drink water and still breathe."

Keona: "He called me lady!"

Jonathan: "Guess I'll ask God later."

Keona: "When I get to heaven, I'd like to ask God why he didn't give us magic."

Jonathan: "What? Magic? God doesn't need magic. God is all powerful. If there wasn't God, there wouldn't be anything."

Keona: "Yes, but I still think it would be fun to go 'poof' and have a pink horse."

Jonathan: "Listen, isn't the rain beautiful??"

Keona: "I'm going to paint my truck rainbow."

(pause)

Jonathan: "Mom, can you rub my back?"

Keona: "Mommy, can you scratch my head?"

(longer pause)

All in whispers: "luv you....."

on tickets

(Tonight's conversation with Jonathan after a poor choice resulting in the loss of screen time tomorrow.)

Jona: "But Mom, I didn't remember that it was wrong!! Please, give me another chance."

Alicia: "Jona, do you remember when I got my one and only speeding ticket? I didn't mean to speed, but I was still breaking the law. After the policeman gave me a ticket you said, 'Thank God he stopped us. God used him to save our lives because we could have had an accident.' The policeman gave me a ticket now to save us from an accident later. Daddy and I are giving you a ticket now to help prevent an accident later."

Jona: "But I had plans for my screen time tomorrow."

Alicia: "Yep, I had plans for that $125 too. You know we're doing the right thing, Jona."

Jona: "Yeah. I do. It's just hard."

(Thank you Mr. Policeman, for stopping me, for not letting me off easy, for giving me a life-lesson in the presence of my son.)

where (oh where) has alicia been?

Hello friends,

I'm in the middle of the Fall speaking run which started with Alaska (mentoring workshop, rally, and Sunday Service in Fairbanks), Arizona (district women's retreat in Prescott) , and Tennessee (Leadership Consecration services in Memphis), and will end with Texas (CFNI women's retreat), Tennessee (attending MOPS convention and being interviewed on the Brian Mason Show), Louisiana (Bethany World Prayer Center, Healing Place, and New Iberia), and Illinois (Leadership gathering at Covenant United Church of Christ).

God's presence has been both thick and refreshing. And...I'm starting to feel a little weary around the edges from the travel. I certainly appreciate your prayers.

Kate (amazing webmaster) and I are re-dreaming the website and hope to apply a face lift both visually and structurally over the next month. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

Also, I just posted a discussion topic at our facebook group about what kind of messages group members would like to receive as part of truthportraits tribe.

Below is an email from my publisher about Finding an Unseen God. The grace of God!

Peace to you all---alicia

"Some neat news from my side: We've recently chosen your book for submission to a few annual book awards: the Christianity Today Book Awards and the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Christian Book Awards. In addition, we've submitted the cover to be considered for an ECPA cover award. The awards are months away, but we're super excited that they could lead to wider readership and recognition of your book. And I'm also personally pleased that of the 25 or so new nonfiction books we did last year, yours was chosen by our team to be among the 2 or 3 we could recommend for each award.--Jeff"

a dangerous crossing

Hello friends!

Fall is a season of harvest, fullness, and transition. Here at home, we're finding a rhythm with schooling, watching the trees release their leaves...and I'm at the airport each weekend flying out to share with amazing men and women.

I'll be blogging less through the Fall, but hope to check in now and then to share with you some of the messages I'm preparing. Last week in Arizona, we dove into Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours. This weekend, I'll be with an incredible congregation for a consecration service in Memphis. You can read my thoughts about the forming message here.

Peace,
alicia