The Rev. Alexander Whyte was a Scottish minister and author of the 19th century known by his congregation as a man of an unwavering grateful spirit. Regardless of the circumstances, he seemed always to find something for which to be thankful. One of his parishioners told a story about a gloomy Sunday morning when a friend commented, just before the service started: “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this.” However, no sooner had the man said these words, the reverend opened the service with a prayer: “We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this.”

The story reminded me of a research I did several years ago for a message I prepared for my first large conference as the keynote speaker. As I prayed about the theme of the message, I felt led to Psalm 42. The first verse of this psalm became well-known inside the Christian community after Seattle-native Martin J. Nystrom launched the song “As the Deer” in 1984.

“As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.”

Both the song and the psalm’s emphasis are on the writer’s trust, love and hope in God, but a study on chapter 42 in its entirety finds a man fighting against the shadows of depression that threaten to steal his peace and his faith.

Scholarly opinions diverge concerning the authorship of this psalm. Some believe the “sons of Korah” wrote Psalms 42 to 49. They were a clan of Levites appointed by King David as the temple’s musicians. According to these scholars, these psalms were composed during the Babylonian exile when the writers were far from their homeland and their place of worship, fighting depression and reminiscing the days when they worshipped in Jerusalem’s temple.

Other scholars, such as the notorious Matthew Henry, attribute this psalm to King David. As Henry states in his commentary: “(…) we may conjecture that it was penned by (David) at a time when, either by Saul’s persecution or Absalom’s rebellion, he was driven from the sanctuary and cut off from the privilege of waiting upon God in public ordinances.”

We may not be sure concerning this psalm’s authorship, but the sentiment behind the famous words is broadly familiar. As one reads Psalm 42, one finds a man caught between depression and faith, struggling to keep his heart anchored in God’s promises while facing desperate circumstances.

“My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (v.3)

The author’s pain and sense of isolation are deep and real, and yet, as we read on, we witness his steadfast determination not to succumb to depression:

“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, for the help of His presence.”

The psalm is, by all accounts, a lesson in thanksgiving during difficult times. And I believe it is a message much needed this year, as many of God’s faithful children have faced incredible hardships or find themselves isolated from their loved ones this Holiday season.

Depression is indeed one of the most common emotional issues during life’s difficult trials. This psalm reveals a man caught in deep emotional pain but who refuses to succumb to its tentacles. His answer is simple yet challenging to anyone in the middle of a personal crisis: He looks back to remember God’s faithfulness in the past and looks forward, by faith, declaring that the same God who was faithful then, is still faithful now.

Remember God’s faithfulness in the past and look forward, by faith, declaring that the same God who was faithful then, is still faithful now. @AJC #Mondaydevotional #MondayMotivation #Thanksgiving2020 #Thankful
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God had not abandoned him, and His deliverance would undoubtedly come. The author proclaimed God’s redemption, even though his eye did not see it coming.

Maybe this holiday season finds you in a similar place. Perhaps like the author of Psalm 42, your life has changed so dramatically that you find your heart’s song wavering between depression and hope, anxiety and trust. Maybe, like a deer panting for water, your soul is dry, longing for God to revive it again.

If that is you, let the psalmist’s lesson on Thanksgiving guide you today. Look back. Remember the countless ways that God rescued you in the past.

And then, just as The Rev. Whyte boldly declared his trust and thanksgiving to God on that gloomy day, dare to say:

“We thank Thee, O God, that it will not always be like this.”

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Click HERE to read it on the AJC’s website.

Hard to find things to be grateful for these days? Do as the author of Psalm 42 did: look back, remember God's faithfulness in the past, and rejoice! The same God who was faithful then... is faithful today and forevermore. @AJC…
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The post Look Back to Bring Forth Thanksgiving {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

― Anne Frank, “The Diary of a Young Girl”

I was 14 years old when our school drama director cast me to play the role of Anne Frank. He said there was a poignant resemblance between the famous Jewish writer and me, both in looks and attitude. As I looked at her pictures and started reading her diary, I became genuinely flattered by the compliment. Anne Frank was a pure beam of light. Her optimism, imagination, and grace were both contagious and astounding.

I had recently found out that my father was a descendent of Dutch Jews; therefore, the plight of my ancestors in World War II became a meaningful subject of study to me. In an attempt to better understand the truth about one of history’s darkest times, I read several books concerning the war.

But of all the books I’ve read and movies I’ve watched on WWII since then, Anne Frank’s diary was perhaps the one that touched me the most.

The diary provides the reader with an intense and moving glimpse into the world of this young teenager. Her family fled from Nazi Germany to Amsterdam in 1933. In 1940, Germany invaded Holland, and one year later, when all public schools closed to Jews, the Franks were forced to hide in a secret annex of a house. They remained in their small hiding place and under the protection of non-Jew Dutch office workers for two years but were eventually betrayed and deported to Westerbork concentration camp, and later to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In November 1944, Anne and her sister Margot arrived in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where Anne contracted typhus and died.

Earlier this morning, I was outside, enjoying one of the few sunny days during this countrywide quarantine, when one of Anne Frank’s quotes ran across my mind:

“As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?”

As I closed my eyes, letting the warm morning sunshine touch my face, I listened to the birds’ songs and the rustling of leaves as my two puppies chased each other in the backyard. I thought about the many complaints I have heard since the government shut down businesses and public places, forcing us to stay home with our families. Those thoughts took me back to a young girl who, 80 years ago, was forced to hide, not for one month, but two years, and who still had the hope and wisdom to see beauty and God’s hand in her dire circumstances. The memory of the time her story stole my heart encouraged me to dust off her book and read some of her most encouraging quotes:

“I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.”

“Those who have courage and faith shall never perish in misery.”

“Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”

Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again ~ Anne Frank @AJC #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts #AnneFrank #Coronovirus #encouragement
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We don’t know how long this quarantine will last, how many people will get sick with this dreadful virus, and how many more will die. All we can do is trust God, who is still on the throne. He has allowed this crisis for a reason. While many of our comforts and amenities have been taken away, we should seize this surreal time and enjoy people and things we often take for granted, as well as reach out to those in need. We may not be able to visit them, but we can pray, leave a meal at their doorstep, or send an encouraging text or card.

We don’t know how long this quarantine will last, how many people will get sick with this dreadful virus, and how many more will die. All we can do is trust God, who is still on the throne. @AJC #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts…
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The question is: Are we choosing to spend this time complaining, criticizing our authorities or trembling in fear, or, like that wise 14-year-old Jewish girl, are we determined to find beauty, gratitude, and purpose in this trial?

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” — Nelson Mandela

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. ~ Nelson Mandela @AJC #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts #AnneFrank #Coronovirus #encouragement
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This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, March 28, 2020. Click HERE to read it on the AJC website. 

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The Sermon of the Mount is believed to have been delivered in the beginning of Christ’s ministry, after His baptism by John the Baptist and after His many miracles in Judea and Galilee. The focus of the sermon was to teach His newly appointed 12 disciples and the multitude that followed Him on the New Covenant’s standards of righteousness.

The words have possibly been the most repeated sermon since the first century. It is a practical discourse, which transcends the credenda of Christianity and bleeds into humanity’s yearnings; for gentleness, comfort, mercy and peace are gifts desired by all.

The first sentence out of Jesus’ mouth sets the tone that revolutionized the beliefs of first-century Jews.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The first sentence out of Jesus’ mouth sets the tone that revolutionized the beliefs of first-century Jews: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. #SermonoftheMount #Christmas #MondayMotivation
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I confess that I was puzzled by the first line of the Beatitudes for a long time. At first glance, both in my native language Portuguese as well as in English, the word “poor” conveys a negative meaning, and one would think that Jesus would want his followers to be spiritually “rich.”

A study on the context of the setting of the sermon and the Greek language, however, opens our eyes to the deeper and strategic meaning of those first words.

As Jesus performed miracles, multitudes followed him — some seeking his gifts, others out of mere curiosity. While the onset of his ministry involved many signs and wonders, Scriptures also say that he taught in synagogues, confronting many of the teachings of the Pharisees. These first-century teachers of the law associated righteousness with observing Jewish feasts, following rituals and abiding by endless rules, many of which had been established by rabbis throughout Israel’s history as supplements to the law of Moses as established in the Torah. Christ confronted their teachings as legalistic rather than spiritual, and the first words on the Sermon of the Mount clarify that position: “Poor in spirit” in Greek, refers to the humility needed by those who seek God. The poor in spirit (otherwise also translated as “the meek” or “the lowly”) are those who humbly acknowledge their need and dependence on God. Those find the blessedness and joy of having access to the father.

Humility and dependence. I cannot help but smile as I realize the connection between Jesus’ first words as recorded on his first sermon and his advent to this world.

Humility and dependence. I cannot help but smile as I realize the connection between Jesus’ first words as recorded on the Sermon of the Mount and His advent to this world. #SermonoftheMount #Christmas #Humility
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The king born in the lowliest of places. A manger. The little baby whose birth distressed the great Herod, moved wise men to travel for months to bear Him gifts, and ultimately changed history like no one else before or since, came to the world as a modest carpenter’s son. Messiah, born as a completely dependent baby, reminds us, as a grown man, that if we are to be blessed by God, we are to humbly depend on Him.

Messiah, born as a completely dependent baby, reminds us, as a grown man, that if we are to be blessed by God, we are to humbly depend on Him.
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As we gear our hearts to celebrate Christmas, I am challenged to connect His birth to His words on the mountain that day. From His lowly birth to His challenge to those who would hear him … from the moment I realized my inadequacy to come before a holy God on my own merit, to my desire to follow His teachings, I believe Jesus’ words translate the very message of Christmas:

Blessed are those who are humble as the Baby in the manger … humble to acknowledge that nothing they can do gives them access to an almighty, righteous God.

Humility and dependence are indeed the heart of Christmas. They are also the key to God’s heart.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – December 7, 2018.

Blessed are those who are humble as the Baby in the manger … humble to acknowledge that nothing they can do gives them access to an almighty, righteous God. Humility and dependence are indeed the heart of Christmas. #Christmas…
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The post The sermon of the Mount and the heart of Christmas {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

But when I started talking about freedom from past experiences, she interrupted the conversation, mentioning the long list of reasons as to why her life was in such terrible shape. She had never felt loved as a child. She had always felt inadequate, insecure. She knew her love relationships would never last. In less than five minutes talking to the lady, the conversation turned from present circumstances to her past experiences. It became clear that she was allowing her past to define her present.

My heart ached for her, as I could relate to her sense of inadequacy and heartbreak. I certainly remember a time when all my troubles were, in my mind, as unchangeable as my past. But beyond sympathy, I felt like shaking this lady out of her trance. She has been caught, just as I once was, in a conspicuous, joy-stealing trap. Invariably, people who do that refuse to take ownership of their current situation, blaming past circumstances and their upbringing for everything bad that happens to them.

I know she is not alone. I’ve met several people with similar stories. From something as simple as parents who had no time when they were children, to verbally or physically abusive parents or spouses, many adults struggle with the weight of past experiences and traumas.

Although I believe God is grieved by what happened in our past, I am convinced he does not expect our past experiences to determine our present and future.
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As a matter fact, I believe he longs to show us that the bad experiences we’ve had can be used to strengthen us and help others. But we must, first and foremost, choose to let go. And, most importantly — we must set the people who hurt us free.

Strange as it may seem, if we are honest, we must admit that sometimes our past becomes a crutch that we drag along as the reason we cannot walk in victory. We justify our insecurities or bad temper because someone hurt us. Or it seems easier to blame mom or dad, the ex-boyfriend or spouse, than to take ownership of our lives, pressing on to a brighter destiny. All along, I imagine God, hands extended toward us saying: “Come. There is life beyond your pain. There is fullness of joy beyond your past. There is a future that is not determined by anything but your willingness to let go and embrace the life I offer you.”It’s not easy. I know it too well. I used my “crutches” for far too many years. They were comfortable to me. But I found out that they were nothing but a trap, designed to keep me from reaching the purpose God had for my life. Once I realized that, I deliberately decided not to use my past to justify the way I behaved toward perfectly good people in my life. It was time to stand on my present, fully and hopeful, if I were to ever find fulfillment. My bad attitudes and impatience had to go. My insecurities and neediness had to leave. And I became determined to conquer them, by God’s grace and power.

He was there for me. With loving arms, God wrapped me in a love that I had never experienced before. His love was so deep and unconditional that it slowly erased all unforgiveness, pain and insecurities that had haunted me for years. It happened one step at a time, as I surrendered each burden and chose to forgive. Only then, after choosing to deliberately leave the past where it belonged, was I able to receive the healing, peace and joy that set me free.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – October 27, 2018.

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The post Stop Allowing Your Past to Define Your Present {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

There are no official records of when King David wrote the most quoted Psalm in Scriptures, but the depth of its metaphorical language suggests the writings of an older, seasoned man. There is a tone of submissive, quiet confidence which suggests a heart that has been tested by many trials and proven the faithfulness of God, time and again. A young man whose life had just begun would not have written with such confidence and assurance of God’s protection in every circumstance.

David had experienced betrayal, loss, persecution, death threats, and the anguish of a guilty soul. He had indeed walked through the valley of the shadow of death and survived, rising yet stronger and wiser on the other side.

A former shepherd, David described God as the ultimate shepherd of man’s soul — a metaphor drawn out of his own experience, no question. He knew that sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for provision, guidance and protection. He also knew that sheep are stubborn animals and, without the guidance of a shepherd, can easily go astray. Furthermore, he knew that even though sheep usually ignore their shepherd’s presence, a good shepherd never slumbers while watching his sheep.

The words of Psalm 23 danced across my mind as we drove through the Shenandoah Valley this past summer during our family’s vacation. With my camera aimed at the edge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachian mountain range, I marveled at the lush green vegetation of the large valley, taking in the sights of one of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever seen while traveling through these United States.

“It’s funny that we refer to our trials as valleys,” I said to my husband. “There is hardly a more beautiful landscape than a valley between mountains.”

Lush. Fertile. Filled with life and water. That is indeed what one finds in a valley. But they are also known for harboring wild beasts and other dangers that lurk about in their shadows and rivers.

When David wrote about his experience in the valley of the shadow of death, however, he did not convey the idea of being overcome by its darkness, dangers and loneliness. On the contrary, this beloved Psalm speaks of conquering the solitude and perils of the valley. It speaks of the fact that we are never alone through life’s dangerous and difficult circumstances. God, the shepherd, is herein portrayed as a conquering Helper, Provider and Friend.

As I looked through my car window into the beauty of the Shenandoah, I thought of the many trials I have faced, and the fact that I too can sing the song that the shepherd king penned down. Indeed, I can testify that each valley I’ve crossed, though difficult to navigate, had unparalleled beauty within. For it was as I crossed these valleys that my soul proved the faithfulness of my God. It was through each hardship that my inadequacies were exposed, my weaknesses surrendered into His almighty hands.

It is as we cross valleys that our soul can prove the faithfulness of our God. It is through each hardship that our inadequacies are exposed, weaknesses surrendered into His almighty hands.
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If you are going through a dark, scary valley today, may King David’s song echo as a reminder that you are not alone. The Shepherd is ever with you, guiding you to the edge of the mountain and step-by-step reading your muscles, so you can climb it to the mountaintop. He will carry you when you are too weak to walk, restore your soul when you are too tired to move forward.

Even though shadows may threaten to hide the beauty within, remember that the valley is fertile with seeds of personal and spiritual growth. Do not let fear overcome you, nor allow the shadows to threaten your peace, thus hiding the fact that the good Shepherd is with you. And He is enough.

Do not let fear overcome you, nor allow the shadows to threaten your peace, thus hiding the fact that the good Shepherd is with you. And He is enough.
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This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – September 29, 2018.

The post Welcome the Valley {It’s where you will grow} – The Atlanta Journal Constitution appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

I watched the scene from a distance, fully aware that I was invisible to the group of teenagers standing in front of me. It’s amazing how parents disappear whenever teens get together. As an avid observer, I sat back to pay attention to the scene unfolding before me. A group of beautiful girls and dazzled boys conversed animatedly, talking about the day at school, while planning their next big thing.

Two girls stood out. Tall, skinny and blond, every boy and girl in the group seemed hypnotized by their presence. They played with their immaculate hair while talking, showing their perfect, pearly smiles. They are beautiful, and they know it. As my eyes scanned the group, my heart sank while watching some of the other girls shrink as the two popular kids stood out.

And just like that, I was 15 again. The all too familiar weight of comparison and inadequacy flooded my mind, as I imagined their struggle:

“Mom, can I have highlights? I really want to be blond.”

“If only I could get rid of these freckles. I hate them.”

“If only my hair were straight.”

“If only my hair were curly.”

“If only I could lose 10 pounds.”

Ah, the comparison curse! So many of us have been haunted by its ghost during our youth. It’s the ghost that told us we were unworthy, unlovable, unintelligent and ugly. It screamed that we could never measure up, and that the grass was always greener in our friends’ front yard. And even though this ghost certainly haunted teenagers in the ’80s, when we wished to look like Cindy Crawford and be popular like Whitney Houston, this joy-stealer, heart-breaking curse floods our culture more than ever on this social-media driven 21st century.

If you had asked me before today if I had overcome the feelings of insecurity of my youth, I would have quickly replied with a big, fat “yes.”

“I know who I am and I’m happy with myself. Finally.”

But during my time of prayer and reading Scriptures this morning, I realized that this statement is only partially true.

No, I don’t spend my time trying to look or sound like someone else. I am at peace with my red hair and Brazilian accent. I don’t dream of wearing a size 2, nor do I wear painful high-heeled shoes to appear 4 inches taller anymore.

But truth be told, as I thought about the race God has called me to run, I realized that I have allowed the comparison ghost to creep in again. Rather than haunting me to feel unworthy or ugly, it plays with grown-up fears these days. Maybe you can relate:

“If only I could write/speak/sing/cook like she does.”

“If only I had her job.”

“If only I had his money.”

“If only my marriage were like theirs.”

“If only I were not alone.”

If only.

There’s a vast difference between desiring to be married, grow in our profession, look our best or do our very best … and trying to run someone else’s race.
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On one hand, we keep focus on what God has called us to do, at this moment in time and plan for the future as God shows us the next steps. We welcome ideas and even ask for advice, nevertheless remembering that, just as our fingerprints are exclusive, so is the race God sets before each individual.

Conversely, we can become so enamored by someone else’s accomplishments that we start applying their “success formula,” without stopping to pray to find out if it is right for us. All the while, I imagine God lovingly waiting on us to ask: “Father, is this right … for ME?”

Sometimes I just have to be reminded that when God made me, He broke the mold. There has never been, nor will there ever be someone just like me. Or just like you.
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We are fearfully and wonderfully made for an exclusive, divine plan that cannot be compared to anyone else’s.

May we focus on running our unique race, lest we miss our destination for being distracted with someone else’s journey.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday –  September 15th, 2018.

The post Don ‘t Try to Run Someone Else’s Race {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

In one of his writings, he tells an amusing story about Gen. Stonewall Jackson’s campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the spring of 1862. The incident supposedly happened when Jackson’s army ended up on one side of a river when it needed to be on the other side. The only way to get that accomplished was by building a bridge. Jackson engaged his engineers to plan and build the bridge, and the gentleman retreated to start planning. In the meanwhile, Jackson shared the immediate need with his wagon master, telling him of the urgency of the matter: The wagon train should get to the other side of the river quickly. Without hesitation, the wagon master started gathering logs, rocks and fence rails, and started building a bridge.

Long before the break of dawn, Jackson was awakened by the news that all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. He was astounded to find out that the wagon master had managed to execute the project on his own. “Where are the engineers and what are they doing?” the general supposedly asked. The wagon master’s only reply was that they had spent the night in their tent, drawing up plans for a bridge.

Whether the story happened exactly as told by Dr. Gambrel or not, its significance nevertheless reminded me of a principle that I have grown to appreciate and believe in:

Sometimes, faith without action is no faith at all.
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I believe that, for many people of faith, this concept presents a true challenge. I have heard stories of people diagnosed with terminal diseases and who believed that they must reject all scientific treatments, relying only on supernatural healing. Entire denominations reject medical assistance, claiming that the healing will certainly come if one’s faith is strong enough.

I don’t intend to judge the sincerity on anyone’s faith by any means, but I firmly believe that God uses different methods to bring about healing and deliverance. Sometimes, he acts alone. Miracles happen, and we did not do a thing. However, more often than not, we are required to do our part.

I personally believe that often doing something is the greatest act of faith. Simply because it requires that we believe in ourselves as well.

Even as I type this article, my faith is being tested in that regard. I have received an assignment which has become very difficult to complete. I have gathered the “logs, rocks and fence nails,” but honestly do not see how I can build that bridge to cross the river successfully. I know, however, that this is exactly where my faith is being stretched, tested and strengthened once again: Will I keep on working and trusting God to guide me to the other side, or will I cross my arms and not move until I see his hand at work?

Saint Augustine, one of the most important Christian theologians and philosophers of the first century Roman church, gives me the answer: “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

Augustine’s words challenge me. Because as I look back, I certainly remember times in my life when God acted in miraculous ways — times when I did not lift a finger and yet, deliverance, provision or healing came. But I have also witnessed many times when doors were opened, but not before I knocked; healing was received, but not until a doctor’s hands were at work; and dreams were fulfilled, but not until I did my part.

Indeed, I believe there is a time to pray and be still … and then there is a time to pray and act. Both require faith. Just as it happened to the wagon master in the story, let us remember that sometimes the miracle only comes when we put our hands to work, and start building that impossible bridge.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s Column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, June 9, 2018.

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. ~ Saint Augustine
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While mentioning the critics of his 10-year program, he challenged them as people “who look with fear and distrust upon planning for the future,” and then proceeded to make an interesting analogy:

“These men who live in the past remind me of a toy I’m sure all of you have seen. The toy is a small wooden bird called the “Floogie Bird.” Around the Floogie Bird’s neck is a label reading: “I fly backwards. I don’t care where I’m going. I just want to see where I’ve been.”

Inevitably, curious that I am, I immediately searched for pictures of this unique toy. Strangely enough, I could not find it anywhere on the web. I wanted to see it because I found the saying odd for a child’s toy. But the illustration certainly gave me pause, particularly that day.

The first two months of 2018 have quickly gone by. Earlier this week, before coming across Truman’s speech, I felt a bit discouraged while realizing that one of the most important tasks that God put in my heart to accomplish this year is already falling behind.

At the end of 2017, I wrote my goals for the New Year, and decided to add a new strategy to keep focused on my objectives and not waste time. I wrote down my main goals, and broke them down in smaller tasks, to be accomplished within a set timeframe.

Now – I know that life happens. When you are a mom of two girls in school age and with no extended family in town to count on for help, their schedule takes precedent over yours. It just happens. Since I work from home, I have been blessed to have flexibility, and because I have committed to keep my priorities in order, failure to manage my time in the past caused ministry work objectives to fall behind. No issue there. However, because of these past failures, I found myself looking back at what has not been accomplished last year and thinking: “There we go again – Nothing will change.”

I believe everyone has some sort of paradigm that they do not wish to repeat, and yet, find themselves naturally drawn to. Nevertheless, whether it is a habit that we need to quit, or a past failure that keeps us bound, at some point in time we must realize that we are the only ones preventing our dreams from coming true by failing to commit to the needed changes.

Floggie bird flew backwards, and as a result, he did not know where he was going. President Truman called 1948 Americans to believe that the future could not be better unless certain changes were implemented.

Throughout Scriptures, God also calls us to learn from our past, turn around, and focus our eyes on him for strength to change those things that keep us anchored to past failures.
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As for me, today I choose to review my objectives, rewrite timelines and move forward, with a heart anchored not in the past, but in the blessed assurance that the one who started a good work in me is faithful to complete it.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, March 2, 2018.

Look to the past to learn. But #focus on Jesus to #succeed!
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The story spread like fire in the small fishing village. People hurried to the beach, just to take a glimpse of the extraordinary catch. Simon Peter and his fishing partners, James and John, looked at the nets, in disbelief.

It all started when Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and great crowds were gathered to listen to his teachings. He noticed two empty fishing boats at the water’s edge, while the fishermen washed their nets. He stepped into one of the boats, asking Simon Peter to push it out into the water, where he proceeded to teach the crowds. When he finished speaking, he told Peter to row the boat back to where the water was deeper, and let down the nets once again. Peter was puzzled. They had fished all night, unsuccessfully. As an experienced fisherman, he knew better: The best time for fishing ended with the break of dawn.

But Peter had been watching the master from a distance. He had heard of the healings that took place, and that even demons fled a man’s body at Jesus’ command. Therefore, against all reason, Peter obeyed. As he did so, the men caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. It took two boats to take the catch back to shore. The miracle, which started with one small step of obedience against all odds, propelled the men to follow Jesus for the remainder of his life on earth, and take part in the events that changed the course of history forever.

I thought about this passage recently, when I felt compelled to take a step that did not make much sense at all. It happened on the last day of the year, when a random thought crossed my mind during the New Year’s service at church. At first, I was tempted to reason it out and dismiss it. But the idea would not leave me and the more I prayed about it, the more I believed God was instructing me to move forward. Knowing from past experiences that God does not always make sense, I decided to obediently take that small step on the first week of 2018.

I honestly did not want to. Not only because I secretly was afraid of failure and ridicule, but also because I knew that if the door opened, the task ahead would bring hard work and sacrifice. However, despite my skepticism and fear, I chose to take one small step forward, and make a phone call.

“OK, Lord!” I reasoned, “this makes no sense and I am scared. But if this is your will, open the door and I will know it.”

Just as Peter reluctantly cast the empty net into what he believed to be an empty sea, my legs trembled while taking that first step. And just as the apostles’ arms could barely hold the weight of a net full of fish, my hands shook as my small seed of faith brought forth the promise of a bountiful harvest.

I can’t help but wonder how many of us fail to fulfill our dreams, year after year, simply because we refuse to sow a small seed of faith … or quit in the middle of the journey. It may be that we are scared to take a step forward in the dark, trusting God with the unknown. Or it may be that we allow setbacks to become permanent stumbling blocks, instead of allowing them to strengthen our resolve to move forward with renewed commitment and faith. As we quit, or never start, promises remain unfulfilled, and blessings delayed. In our skepticism, laziness or fear, we unintentionally withhold God’s best.

May we never forget that every great deed ever accomplished started with a small step, and that God rejoices in opening doors for those who persevere and trust him with the unlikely and the impossible.
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This article was originally printed on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – February 3, 2018.

Ever wonder how far you are from receiving God's very best? Peter, James and John had no idea how close they were... Check this out!
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