Memoirs of a Moorings

Still Becoming...

“You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.” ~David Viscott

My 20 year class reunion took place this past weekend and has me waxing nostalgic. I pulled out my old scrapbooks and found myself face-to face with a me that was two decades younger.

I clearly recall 20 years ago. The starry wide-eyed dreams I had. How I couldn't wait to graduate from high school to get on with my real life. I packed up my little life and headed  off to Howard University carrying around my dream of becoming a writer. Armed with a journalism degree, I then packed up my car, drove south from the Bay Area to Los Angeles--the bright lights and big city were screaming my name and I came running. My dreams of writing no longer sitting in the clouds somewhere. It didn't take long for me to land a writing gig that I loved--interviewing celebrities, visiting movie sets. Fun stuff.

Looking back, I see how God exceeded some of my wildest dreams. And I see how some of my dreams died a violent death. The sting still sits visible on my skin from those moments. Yet God is in the midst of resurrecting some of those broken dreams as only He can. And as I look back over where I've been, I can't help but wonder what I can still become. I've got a lot more living to do. I know God is calling me to something bigger than myself and I'm excited (and a bit scared) at the outcome.

We are never too old to become what we were meant to be.
Abraham was promised to become a father of many nations at the age of 99.
Sarah was 90 when God told her she would give birth to a child.
Noah was nearly 500 years old when God commissioned him to build the ark.
Moses was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Doesn't matter how old we are. Doesn't matter what lies behind us. Mistakes that tripped us up, can be used as stepping stones to our higher purpose. And God can do His greatest work in us even when we think our days are numbered.

I'm looking back 20 years and seeing all that I've accomplished. All I didn't accomplish. And I'm looking forward--marveling at what is yet to be.

What can I still become?

Who can you still become?

Peeking In

“If I stand here, I can see the Little Red Haired girl when she comes out of her house... Of course, if she sees me peeking around this tree, she'll think I'm the dumbest person in the world... But if I don't peek around the tree, I'll never see her... Which means I probably AM the dumbest person in the world... which explains why I'm standing in a batch of poison oak.” ~Charlie Brown (Peanuts)

I have ave always loved glimpses into people's lives. How they organize things. Decorate their world. I call it the reporter in me. Family calls it the nosey in me.

Blogs offer me a front row seat into people's lives. So it's a given that I'm a big blog reader. Recently, I went through my Google Reader and cleaned house. I had way too many blogs that were sucking up my time. So I saved my very favorites. And a few I really like. And some that were very cool...and...well you get the idea. Thought I'd take the time to share with you just a handful of some blogs that you may want to add to your daily reading.

Perry Noble - Always a good word/lesson. And he does not mince his words.

A Holy Experience - Ann's quiet reflections on life and God never cease to amaze me. She helps to me to see God in a whole new light.

Tara Whitney: Just Be Blogged: She's fun. She's funky. She's fresh. Her photos are vibrant. I love just about everything she captures through her camera. And I secretly want her to take pics of my family.

My Life...just not on the road I expected: Another photographer. I'm in love with the way she captures the small moments of everyday life and tells a story with her photos.

Unclutterer: Because I adore organization even though my life doesn't always reflect it.

The Simple Wife: She's authentic and really what more can you ask for!

Makes Me Wanna Holler & Mocha Dad & Homeschool Daddy & African American Dad: I love black men who love their wives and are making a difference in their children's lives.

(in)couraged!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

This morning, I woke up in a bit of a funk. Then I walked outside and found doggy poop on the lawn that I have to clean up...and no, we don't own a dog. A big box fell out of my cart at Babies R Us...twice. And I could not find a parking spot so that I could grab lunch at my favorite Japanese grill. Minor irritants that were magnified by this morning's funk.

Little did I know how soon God was going to turn that funk around.

I opened up Google Reader and started reading a blog post from Like A Warm Cup of Coffee. And I had to click over to (in)courage to finish reading. I'd been hearing all the buzz about this new site--all the cool contributors, the cute t-shirts. So I stopped by to really take a look and immediately fell in love. The crisp, clean design of the website, the focus which they consider to be a virtual " beach house" [where] You can put your sandy, dirty feet on the coffee table, laugh late into the night with friends, and also hear God’s voice clearer than perhaps anywhere else. Life just feels more vibrant and real, as if you’ve stumbled upon a glimpse of heaven and it’s nothing like you ever imagined but everything you’d always hoped."

Then I saw the contributors and knew why I loved the site even more. There were the faces of some of my faves: Ann Voskamp of A Holy Experience (life stops when there is a new post from her in my Google Reader.) Anne Jackson of FlowerDust (a noted author and blogger); Lisa Leonard whose lovely jewlery I have purchased on more than one occasion and whose sweet blog I follow....of course I could go on. All gifted women in their own right. 

But one thing that struck me was there were no brown faces like mine. No yellow or red faces. So I did something so unlike me. I sent a quick little email pointing out this fact. Of course, it wasn't going to stop me from reading, but it'd be nice to see a face like mine to help me feel more at home. I got this prompt reply back via email:

Hi!
You are so right. Honestly, we have been struggling with this very thing, representing the full tapestry of His daughters and enabling ALL women to feel at ‘home.’ We’ve been praying that God would continue to bring us the right women to be contributors to the site.

So glad you emailed and voiced your concern. . . and such a God moment. One of our bloggers recommended you! I’ve had your blog minimized on my computer most of the week, reading and watching. I’m copying our Editorial Director, Holley Gerth, since we would like you to guest post next month for us. You were already on our minds to ask. I love how God works these things out!

Thank you for being transparent and willing to be a part of the (in)courage community.
 
Blessings,

Stephanie
 
P.S. Our heart is to continue to grow the tapestry of (in)courage. We are always on the lookout for Christian women from diverse backgrounds, nations, colors, etc. If anyone comes to mind, please share it with us. Thanks!

I read and wept.

Me? Sharing my words in the company of all these great women? I've interviewed celebrities, written for national publications and even now manage the editorial department for a noted mega-church, but none of that measures up to this.

A God moment indeed.

God turned my funk around. And in a way I could have never imagined. May this (in)courage you to remember that God sees you. He knows you. And most importantly, He loves you.

Possible Impossibilities

God had a staggering goal for a humble girl named Mary. An angel told her that she would bear a son while still a virgin, and that her son would be the Savior of the world. When she inquired about this seemingly impossible feat, the angel simply said,

"For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37).

Let that sink in. Absolutely No thing is impossible with God. With ourselves, yes because there's limited knowledge, limited resources, limited power. But with God, the impossible become possible.

Instead of laughing in disbelief like Sarah, Mary simply says in the next verse: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

What kind of lives would we live if we believed that the impossibilities are indeed possible?