Early in the spring, I had the opportunity of interviewing Laureus “Sport for Good” Ambassador Grant Lottering. After reading about his extraordinary story, I was curious to meet the man who escaped death.

While training for the 2013 World Masters Championship in Italy, Lottering was pronounced dead after a horrific accident. He was revived on the scene and taken to the local hospital, where doctors worked strenuously to save his life. For the next 12 months, Lottering underwent 11 surgeries, only to receive a bleak cancer diagnosis shortly afterward.

By all accounts, Lottering should not be alive. And yet, not only did he survive against all odds, but only a year after the accident, he was back on his bike and working. He founded “Im’Possible Tours,” a nonprofit focused on raising funds for underprivileged children. This year, his tours support and raise awareness for Laurel’s “Sport for Good,” an organization that uses sports as the central means to combat youth violence, discrimination and disadvantages.

While talking to Lottering, it became evident that his faith was the bulwark that protected him and the engine that propelled him through a trial that would indeed have rendered many people utterly defeated.

During the long months of hospitalization, incredible pain and uncertainties, he made a deliberate effort to focus on God’s power and the times he delivered him in the past. Lottering kept looking back to move forward – a recipe well-known to believers who have faced fear and doubts while going through valleys.

Lottering kept looking back to move forward – a recipe well-known to believers who have faced fear and doubts while going through valleys. @MGLottering @AJC #Moveforward
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Not long ago, I recalled my conversation with Lottering while reading through the sixth chapter of the gospel of St. Mark. It is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages of the New Testament, where we find two of Jesus’ most outstanding miracles in scriptures.

After a most extraordinary event, when the master fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, the Bible says that he “immediately made his disciples get into a boat a go ahead of him to the other side of Bethsaida, (…)” while he left for the mountain to pray.

While in the boat, the disciples encountered a massive storm. Jesus saw that his friends were struggling and afraid and therefore came to their rescue, walking on water. It was miracle number two in less than 24 hours. Instead of feeling relief, fear overtook the disciples and completely blinded them. They did not recognize the master. Ultimately, Jesus got into the boat, and the wind stopped.

The sentence in the chapter that follows the incident gives me pause: “(the disciples) were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”

It’s astonishing that the men following Jesus and witnessing his power for years had not gained any insight from the miracle that had just happened ashore, only hours before. Instead of anchoring their hearts on what Jesus had done in the past, they allowed fear to take over and became afraid.

Lottering is one example of a believer who conquered the impossible by focusing on God’s promises and his record of deliverance in the past instead of the storm that circled him. He overcame not because of his strength but because he kept his eyes on his master, believing there would be a purpose for his trial. He reminded his heart that the God who showed up numerous times in his past was the same who would walk him through the next chapter of his life victoriously.

Focus on God’s promises and his record of deliverance in the past instead of the storm that circles you. @MGLottering @AJC #MondayMotivation #Moveforward
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May Lottering’s story of victory through persevering faith, contrasted with the disciples’ memory lapse, inspire us to remember to “look back to move forward,” lest we become defeated by our trials instead of sensitive to the voice who longs to bring purpose from every pain.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, July 30th, 2022. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

Click on the graphic below to listen to the entire interview on the God-Sized stories podcast.

Click Below to watch the interview on Patricia’s YouTube channel:

The post Looking Back to Move Forward {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Whenever we visited, my husband, sister-in-law, and I did most of the talking. Donnie would sit quietly, rarely offering insights into our discussions. But when he did, everyone would listen. He was usually comical, quick and point-blank. You did not have to wonder what he thought. Truly, that was one of my favorite things about him.

We were discussing a situation one day, and he made a comment that made me laugh. But since then, I have repeated the maxim at different times, realizing the truth behind it:

“God is often blamed for things he never said,” Donnie said in his matter-of-fact tone.

God is often blamed for things he never said. @AJC
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Since that day, I have often witnessed situations that made me recall his words. It’s true – to justify certain decisions, it is not uncommon for even the most faithful believer to convince himself that God approves of attitudes or actions which undoubtedly contradict biblical principles.

Let’s face it – who has not deceived himself into believing that bad decisions or actions were acceptable, even God-honoring. Whether it’s justifying why we cannot forgive someone, honor our parents, put an end to an immoral relationship, you name it – most of us have compromised clear principles, calling sin a good thing.

Now, there is no question that there are decisions we make and certain subjects concerning God’s will for our lives that are significantly more subjective. The Bible does not tell me what I should do next in my ministry or whether I should take that job. We must patiently seek answers such as these through prayer, godly counsel, and then wait for the “peace that surpasses all understanding” before moving forward.

However, for any believer who claims to “live by the book,” there are times when we must remove our hearts from the equation before making a decision, lest we become blind to the dangers lurking behind the pretty face, or the devastation waiting around the corner as we take the wrong turn.

There are times when we must remove our hearts from the equation before making a decision, lest we become blind to the dangers lurking behind the pretty face, or the devastation waiting around the corner as we take the wrong turn. @AJC
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The prophet Jeremiah warned Israel about the deceitfulness of one’s heart. His words ring true still today:

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

In his commentary on this passage, 17th-century minister and author Matthew Henry explains:

“We cannot know our own hearts, not what they will do in an hour of temptation (Hezekiah did not, Peter did not), not what corrupt dispositions there are in them, nor in how many things they have turned aside (…).”

It’s true – given the right condition, our emotions can lead us to paths filled with pain and devastating consequences. And those committed to being led by God through life must realize that he is the only one who truly knows the future and that certain situations or people may “look” good but are not his best for us.

Given the right condition, our emotions can lead us to paths filled with pain and devastating consequences. @AJC
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We face decisions daily. Many will bear minimal consequences. Conversely, the ripple effects of certain choices that may look inconsequential at first have the potential of utterly altering the course of our lives or altogether destroying them.

May we learn to listen to God more carefully, telling our hearts to be still and take the time to sift every decision through the grid of His word. As we do, we will realize that many things we thought he said were nothing but the voice of a deceitful heart.

“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes.” — Eleanor Roosevelt.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

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John Quincy Adams is perhaps one of America’s most impressive leaders. No elected official held more prominent offices than Adams in U.S. history. He lived in constant pursuit of excellence, serving with distinction as the country’s president, senator, congressman, and minister to major European powers. He also served in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and his name was tied to important events leading to the Civil War.

Despite all his outstanding accomplishments, we find a quote by the former president that translates the void he felt and insecurities tied to his struggle with perfectionism. At 70 years old, with a lifetime of successes behind him, he wrote, “My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook.”

Indeed, anyone who struggles with perfectionism can attest to it: Perfectionism is a monster disguised in pretty clothes. Its victims usually look always put together. Their homes are often spotless. Their grades and careers, commendable.

Perfectionism is a monster disguised in pretty clothes. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts
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If you are a woman, I guarantee you’ve been jealous of a perfectionist before.

But as is often the case, when it comes to the Joneses, there is much more than meets the eye. It is not uncommon to find deep insecurities hiding behind many perfectionists’ beautiful front and successful endeavors.

I know it too well. A recovering perfectionist, I struggled with thoughts of inadequacy and failure for many years. I strived for straight As and dreamed of straight hair. Indeed, in a perfectionist’s economy, “good” is never good enough.

When it comes to the Joneses, there is much more than meets the eye. It is not uncommon to find deep insecurities hiding behind many perfectionists’ beautiful front and successful endeavors. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation…
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When it comes to physical appearance, the issue is broad. We live at the age of airbrushed, anorexic beauty. My anti-age cream ad campaign portrays a gorgeous 20-year-old model who won’t see a wrinkle on her face for another, well, 20 years. Millionaire actresses in their 50s or older sell us the lie that we can fight the losing battle of sagging, wrinkling and hormonal changes with the latest fad supplement or diet.

Without a doubt, physical perfectionism plagues our society, infiltrating our families and distracting even many of our beautiful young girls, who are hiding in the restrooms, drowning in the hopelessness of anorexia and bulimia.

But then there’s performance perfectionism. Like President Adams, many of us believe that we must be perfect in all we do. Our homes must be immaculate. We must strive to climb the corporate ladder, no matter the cost.

The need for perfection invariably leads to unhealthy comparisons. We may find ourselves comparing our marriage to our friend’s, whose husband appears to be more romantic than ours. Before we know it, we are nagging John to death, trying to change the man we fell in love with into someone he’ll never be.

And let’s not forget our children’s school performance and sports galore! The pressure to be on accelerated programs and honor rolls steal many children’s hide-and-seek moments today. Our baseball, softball and football fields overflow with young boys and girls missing their summers for another championship. Or missing church for another trophy. We push them. They push themselves. And everyone misses the mark.

We strive to perfect ourselves, our children, our spouses, our homes. Inevitably, we become miserable, tired, and broken… together.

It’s not easy to escape from the trap. But if we want to have an abundant life, we must try!

We can start by reminding ourselves of this truth: God is not impressed by our looks or performance. He wants our hearts. Hearts that understand that our perfection is only found in him.

God is not impressed by our looks or performance. He wants our hearts. Hearts that understand that our perfection is only found in him. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts
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He is looking for people who make his priority list theirs, and whose hearts are set less in seeking perfection and more in perfecting their love and devotion for him.

Indeed, today I realize that perfectionism’s most significant issue is that it pushes me to rely less and less on God and more and more on fallible, inadequate me. It borders idolatry, really.

Instead of attaining perfection, the result will always fall short of our target: We become stressed out, needy of approval, self-indulgent, impatient. Simply hard to deal with.

As we strive to escape the perfectionism trap, we should start by viewing ourselves and our performance through the grid of God’s grace. By grace, we are lavished each day with opportunities, gifts and talents which allow us to do our best and be our best.

As Dallas Willard said, “Grace is God acting in our lives to do what we cannot do on our own.”

Indeed, God never designed us to accomplish perfection without him. The point of the gospel is that we are unable to be perfect. We all fall short; we all “miss the mark.” Sinners need a Savior, and as believers, we understand that is the reason Jesus came.

God never designed us to accomplish perfection without him. The point of the gospel is that we are unable to be perfect. We all fall short; we all 'miss the mark.' Sinners need a Savior, and as believers, we understand that is the…
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When we trust in him, he forgives our shortcomings, and we can stop striving for unreasonable, unattainable worldly “perfection” and rest in the Perfect One.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Click Here to find it on the AJC’s website. 

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You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; (…) “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Jesus Christ – The Beatitudes – Gospel of Matthew.

I came across an acquaintance’s social media profile this week that made me ponder about the broad meaning of the word “Influence.” Her profile read in big letters, “Influencer.” As I browsed her pictures, I realized that she has successfully become a fashion ambassador for several brands. Because she has acquired a large following, companies are investing as she promotes stores and labels in her profile.

I remember when she started — fun, lighthearted posts, showing how a woman in her 40s can still wear trendy clothes and look “sexy.” Her beautiful figure and carefree personality helped increase followers, which, in the social media world, means you have become an “Influencer.”

As I looked at the big words on the profile, a smile crossed my face.

“I want to be an influencer,” I said out loud.

My mind was lightyears away from the fashion and fitness world, however. Instead, my thoughts were drawn to Jesus’ words at the end of the Sermon of the Mount — a passage which I have studied in depth.

After addressing the crowd that came to hear His teachings, Jesus turned to focus the discourse on His disciples — the very men who he would later commission to spread the gospel to “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.”

The Master knew the challenges ahead of His followers. They would encounter avid opposition, face persecution, temptations and resistance from the Jews and the mighty Roman empire. They would undoubtedly be tempted to take matters into their own hands and succumb to pressure.

Instead of practical instructions about how to persevere, Jesus’ words were a reminder and a warning concerning the disciples’ attitude: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”

The Jews understood the symbolic meaning of salt in their culture. In the book of Numbers, God’s everlasting covenant with the Jewish people was referred to as “a covenant of salt.” Likewise, the gospel that the disciples would spread to the world would be an everlasting gospel.

Salt was required in every sacrifice in the Old Testament, representing cleansing and preservation. The disciples, therefore, were to become instruments for bringing life, purity and light to the world. They were to become light-bearers in the dark places and influence the world for good. Moreover, Jesus admonished them that if they lost their “salt and light” qualities, their influence for good would likewise diminish or die altogether.

Jesus' #disciples are called to be light-bearers in the dark places and influence the world for good. If we lose our “salt and light” qualities, our influence for good will likewise diminish or die altogether. @AJC #MondayDevotional…
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The concept should give us pause.

Our social media followers may be few. We may be far from being labeled as an “influencer” by the powers that be. But there is no question that we are all influencers in our environment to one degree or another.

Our social media followers may be few. We may be far from being labeled as an #influencer by the powers that be. But there is no question that we are all influencers in our environment to one degree or another.@AJC #MondayDevotional…
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We may not receive the call to be missionaries across the seas, but every child of God has a sphere of influence, whether they realize it or not.

Our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are watching our words and attitudes. Our friends pay attention to how we face life’s circumstances. And let us not forget — our social media followers are reading our posts, whether we share a Bible verse or rant about politics. People cannot be fooled.

We may talk a big game about our faith and commitment to God and his principles, but if our walk does not match our talk, we have lost the salt and light qualities that once made us stand out, “season” and “brighten” the world around us.

We may talk a big game about our faith and commitment to God and his principles, but if our walk does not match our talk, we have lost the salt and light qualities that once made us 'season' and 'brighten' the world around us.
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Jesus’ message to the men and women who would become the greatest influencers in the first century still resounds to 21st-century believers everywhere: Be salt. Be light. Period. That’s the only influence that truly matters.

“My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done; leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun. This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray: Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.” — Anonymous

Jesus’ message to the men and women who would become the greatest influencers in the first century still resounds to 21st-century believers everywhere: Be salt. Be light. Period. That’s the only influence that truly matters. @AJC…
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, April 10, 2021. Find it on the AJC’s website HERE.

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Later, in 2016, a prominent psychology magazine published an article written by the professors titled “Six Truths for Couples.” In this article, the renowned scholars attempted to summarize six important conclusions found during their two decades of study. Their discovery is somewhat bewildering. Factors which one would usually associate with the end of a marriage were not mentioned in their conclusions.

According to their research, it doesn’t matter how in love the couples say they are, or how much affection they show to each other. The durability of a marriage is also not determined by how much couples do or do not fight. In fact, the professors concluded that the beginning of the relationships were very similar between couples who remained happily together after many years and those whose marriage ended in divorce.

One particular conclusion highlighted in their studies jumped out of the page: the poisonous, erosive effect of negative words and criticism.

The difference in the quality of words between couples who ultimately stayed together and couples who later divorced was staggering. According to the research, among couples who stayed together, 5 out of 100 comments were criticism. The number doubled for couples who later divorced: 10 out of 100 comments were negative for those couples.

As the years progressed, the statistics were even more eye opening. Couples who later divorced used as much as five times more negative comments when talking to each other as those who remained happily married. Notarius noted: “Hostile putdowns act as cancerous cells that, if unchecked, erode the relationship over time. In the end, relentless unremitting negativity takes control and the couple can’t get through a week without major blow ups.”

The professors’ research and conclusions gave me pause. I could not help but think of couples I’ve known through the years and the stark difference between their relationships. Those couples that I’ve witnessed lovingly holding each other’s hands through their golden years indeed were kind to each other throughout their married life. Conversely, those whose words and attitudes showed constant disrespect or contempt either stayed together and miserable, or ended up going separate ways.

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul lists nine traits that compose what is known as “The Fruit of the Spirit”: love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In that same chapter, the apostle highlights the blunt difference between those who act in the flesh and those who allow God to shape their character and attitudes.

As I read that chapter in my Bible, I realize that, in our flesh, it is simply impossible to always display the traits of the fruit of the spirit in a marriage. Or in any close relationship, for that matter. Fights will sometimes happen. We will allow anger to silence patience, and selfishness to master over kindness from time to time. When we are tired, or someone wrongs us; when we feel attacked or someone has a bad attitude, our fleshly tendency is to respond with the same type of attitude that we’ve received. Sometimes we are the ones who initiate the bad attitude.

Naturally, there will always be those days when our flesh takes over. But I firmly believe that the secret to a healthy relationship is to make those bad days the exception, not the rule.

The secret to a healthy relationship is to make bad days the exception, not the rule.
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It doesn’t magically happen — it’s a deliberate pursuit. It takes surrendering our shortcoming to God, asking him to take over, and silence your flesh. It takes pausing before speaking, or leaving the room before patience runs out, thus choosing a better time to talk. It’s putting yourself in your spouse’s shoes before saying a harsh word. They are seemingly small attitudes, which in truth become giant contributors to the growth of a love that lasts. The type of love which, in its essence, bears fruit — the very fruits of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This article was originally published on my column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – September 30, 2017

Marriage & the Fruit of the Spirit - Building a love that lasts. @AJC Column
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It had been a long time since I heard God speak in such a clear, unmistakable way.

It took me by surprise. Of all things He could have used to send me a message, He chose a bird. A plain, small backyard sparrow delivered a message that I will never forget.

It was 2002 and I was home with a small baby and an unemployed husband. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 2001, my husband’s job was eliminated only three months after the birth of our firstborn. Our savings were draining fast, and I was afraid.

I knelt by the couch in our family room and cried out to God. For the first time since my husband lost his job, I was transparent in my prayer:

“I’m scared. How are we going to pay the mortgage?”

Was God aware of the price of diapers and baby formula?

As I finished “informing” almighty God of all that was going on in our lives and our imminent needs, I felt a strong need to be quiet and wait for him to speak.

Silence filled the room and several moments passed by. I was about to give up when I heard it:

“Chirp!”

I looked up and saw the sparrow, sitting on the lounge chair outside my window. It seemed to be looking straight at me.

“Look at the birds of the air, Patricia. They do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet I feed them daily. Are you not worth much more than they?”

I knew where the words were printed: Straight from the Sermon of the Mount, one of Christianity’s most beloved passages. The sermon is the longest continuous section of Jesus speaking in the New Testament, and it includes some of Jesus’ most famous teachings, such as the Beatitudes, as well as the widely recited Lord’s Prayer.

In my Bible, the subtitle of this particular passage of the sermon is “The Cure for Anxiety,” a passage often quoted as a reminder that nothing escapes the omniscience of a loving and caring God.

This happened 15 years ago and I’ll never forget it. The question often replays in my mind when I see sparrows lining up on electric wires:

“Are you not worth more than these?”

Whether it’s unemployment, illness, or any other trial or need that we may face, the question remains. And although at times the magnitude of the trouble that assails us is such, that it becomes almost impossible to grasp this truth within our hearts, the answer never changes.

Yes. We’re worth more than those.

We’re the apple of His eye.

That’s Jesus’ point, really.

At the end of the passage, He invites us to, instead of fretting and worrying, seek God’s presence, His kingdom and righteousness …

And then let God be God.

The job didn’t come right away. As a matter of fact, my husband was out of a permanent job for 18 months at that time. But God kept sending small jobs here and there, and often provision came from unexpected places. We never missed a meal. God provided for each one of our needs, even if at the eleventh hour.

While walking through that desert and many others I’ve faced since then, “seeking His kingdom and righteousness” has become my main focus.

No, it’s not always easy. It’s often a struggle to believe past the hurt, pain and confusion. But just as He provided to that bird that joyfully chirped to a distressed young mother on a cold winter morning years ago, I choose to believe He will keep taking care of all my needs, protecting and guiding me through the hard times I face.

He’s done it so far.

Why would He not do it again?

This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – August 5, 2017.

Anxious about tomorrow? A Small Sparrow... and a message I'll never forget. Read this!
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I hid behind the smile and said everything was great, even though my world was falling apart.

I lied to myself that I could handle one more item on my to-do list, even though I knew I was about to hit a wall and crash.

And I believed that my anxious days were behind me, only to find out that anxiety may be my thorn in the flesh. ‘Til Kingdom come.

I was sitting in my church’s choir rehearsal this week, skimming through the crowd of familiar faces, wondering how many of them struggle with similar issues.

Anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disease — there’s no question that the tentacles of these ominous conditions reach past our church walls to afflict even God’s most faithful servants.

In my case, stress and celiac disease are a deadly combination that mess up my brain chemistry. If I am not careful, I can easily get back into a familiar down-spiraling cycle. It doesn’t help at all that God has given me a Type-A personality, making me someone who has a hard time turning down commitments and activities. I’m my own worst enemy. We usually are.

I don’t know how other religions deal with these “unmentionable” diseases, but I do know that, among Christians, there seems to be a dooming cloud lingering above the subject.

People do not talk about it.

It’s taboo.

Many Christians secretively believe that they are supposed to always rise above anxiety and depression. Because the Bible is the only remedy we need.

Don’t get me wrong — I believe these words. Oh, how I know these words to be true!

Countless have been the days when God’s word was my only solace. Its soothing truths, piercing through the darkness, brought a smile to my face. The joy of the Lord became my strength in many a valley.

I know it too well.

But the truth of the matter is — we live in a fallen world. And our souls abide in a fallen body. And sometimes, even though our faith is still strong … even though we still trust God with all our heart, our circumstances become too stressful to bear.

That’s when the stress of our environment (whether self-imposed or not) impact our brain’s chemistry, sending signals that are translated into feelings of anxiety or lingering sadness.

So, today I would like to take a moment to stand up for those of us who have suffered or are suffering from the impact of stressful circumstances, and just say it:

You are not alone.

There are thousands of people who love God — including pastors, priests, rabbis, award-winning religious writers and counselors — who have struggled or struggle with these ailments.

It’s important that we know that anxiety, depression, or any of these terrible conditions do not define who we are. Rather, they can become tools to bring us closer to God.

Anxiety & depression do not define who we are. Rather, they can be tools to bring us closer to God.
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The apostle Paul — the man whose ministry propelled Christianity to explode throughout Europe and beyond in the first century — confessed to the Corinthian believers that he struggled with his own “thorn in the flesh.” Something he begged God to remove from his life. Instead, God helped him realize that this thorn, this weakness, whatever it was, was used to keep the apostle humble, struggling in his flesh, and ultimately dependent on his god.

“For when I am weak, I am strong” was his conclusion. Because it was when his weakness exposed the world to his humanness, that God’s grace and power was revealed in his life, carrying him through.

Indeed, to believe that your faith is not strong enough because of a weakness, is to fall for a lie. A lie that may prevent you from reaching out, seeking help, and finding the healing and peace that your body and soul desperately need.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for the Atlanta Journal constitution on Saturday – July 22, 2017.

Any Christians out there suffering from anxiety or depression? You need to read this!
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“Let me show you something,” my stepdad said.

He pulled the message from his cell phone, and read his daughter-in-law’s text out loud.

She spoke of his influence in her life, and the admiration she holds. He grinned from ear to ear, the words filling his heart with joy.

“I never thought she felt this way about me,” he said.

What followed was a conversation about people that we influence and don’t even know it.

A similar situation happened to me just the day before. As I was leaving my church’s choir room, a lady that I know from a distance stopped to thank me for something I had written the week before. Her eyes filled with tears as she told me that the devotional had been received “right when she needed it.”

As my stepdad and I continued discussing the importance of leaving a positive legacy, a Christian song that I heard years ago kept coming to mind.

The song, titled “What’s Your Story,” speaks of small gestures that seem to go unnoticed, but which impact people’s lives daily. In the chorus of the song, a poignant question rings, which I will never forget:

“What will they say when you leave?”

Wow. Think about it.

In the song, the idea behind the question is to make us think about how we are impacting eternity, but, in reality, the honest answer to this question can help influence each word we say and every decision we make.

If we were a fly on the wall … what would we hear people say when we leave the room?
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The fact of the matter is — we impact people’s lives daily. From the shyest of human beings to the most famous and outspoken world leader — whether on a small or large scale — our words, actions and decisions leave a mark. No question about it.

We simply don’t stop to reflect on this truth often enough. Should we do it, we would hold our tongues more often. We would think longer before commenting on social media. We would pray more before acting. And wait a little longer before hastily jumping to conclusions.

We would be more sympathetic, and more forgiving. More caring, and more careful.

Some of Jesus’ most famous words recorded in the gospels are compiled in a sermon famously named “The Beatitudes.” At the end, he summarizes his teaching with what is known as The Golden Rule: “Treat others the same way you want to be treated.”

As I think about the people in my life — from husband to children, from parents to siblings, from acquaintances to my closest friends, I want to live a life that, though far from perfect, will essentially leave a positive mark when I leave. I don’t need to know about it, but I want to live a life which will be remembered as one that brought more joy than sorrow, more laughter than tears, more forgiveness than revenge.

It’s not a matter of “if” they will say something when you leave. It’s a matter of “what” they will say.

May God help us remember that, the next time we feel the urge to say something negative, complain, or seek to retaliate. Someone is always watching. Your words can be forgiven, but not forgotten. Neither will your love and kindness.

May they say great things about us, every time we leave the room. May our loving influence remain, long after we leave this world.

This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

When you leave this earth, will you leave a lasting, positive influence? Read this.
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“I have walked the brothel hallways with our partners in West Bengal and seen little children living under the beds of their young mothers, who are sex slaves. Without intervention, children of sex slaves are put to work in the brothel at an even younger age than their mothers.”

I sat across from Michele Rickett, founder and president of She is Safe – an international organization with a mission to “prevent, rescue and restore women and girls from abuse and slavery in high-risk places around the world.”

I could barely finish my lunch. A mix of indignation, perplexity and excitement filled my heart, as Michele shared the heartbreaking stories of lives that are being saved, rescued and changed around the world through her organization.

In the beginning of this year, as I started to pray about the staff for my ministry’s upcoming annual women’s conference in October, I felt compelled to invite a local organization involved in the fight against human trafficking to share a testimony about their work during the conference.

A couple of months later, I met Michele at a mission’s conference. As she shared her organization’s work around the world, I immediately knew that She Is Safe was the answer to my prayers.

What started with a spark of interest turned into a passion to bring awareness about a problem that is sweeping the globe: the murder and slavery of girls in impoverished countries, simply because of their gender.

According to a 2010 article of the Economist magazine, “Gendercide” has killed over 100 million girls around the world. Newer research indicates that the number may now be closer to 200 million.

Michele elaborates on the heart-wrenching facts: “The debasing view of girls leads many families to rid themselves of these children, seeing girls as a worthless drain on family resources. The root cause of the murder of girls (gendercide), whether through feticide or infanticide, is the hideously distorted view of a girl’s value. And, of course, there is a powerful vacuum, on many levels, when girls are missing from communities. One of the most sinister is the trade in human beings, or human trafficking, which supplies a massive demand for girls.”

Indeed, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 80 percent of human trafficking victims are girls and women, and 98 percent of sex slaves are female.

Sex slavery and child prostitution are on top of the list of other horrendous issues that plague these countries. Child marriage, physical abuse, female genital mutilation, rape, honor killings, malnutrition, oppression. The list is too large and too distressing.

My flesh screams, threatening to close the book, click out of the article, and forget what I just read. The fact that there are girls, as young as mine and even younger, living such cruel existences is too much to bear. It’s hard not to maintain a “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” attitude.

But I know better. We should all know better.

For while we lie down under comfortable, fully furnished air-conditioned homes, pondering if we should spend hundreds of dollars to give our teenage girl the latest smartphone, there are thousands of babies being aborted every year — simply because they are girls. And even those who survive are viewed as a hindrance to their families and society.

As I finish this column, a heartwarming picture flashes on my computer screen. It shows three beautiful young girls, eyes filled with hope, and smiles that show they are not forgotten. They sit on the front porch of one of the many safe houses that She Is Safe sponsors in India, Indonesia, Mali, Nepal, among other impoverished countries.

Their broad smiles speak volumes from the corner of the webpage: “Someone loves me. I’ve been redeemed and I have a future.”

Join the fight to save a girl’s life and future. Learn how you can help at SheIsSafe.org

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – May 27, 2017.

Millions of girls are killed or sold every day as slaves. Want to help save their lives? Read this.
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The post She Is Safe – Rescuing Young Girls Around the World (Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“On the one hand, we proudly profess certain sublime and noble principles, but on the other hand, we sadly practice the very antithesis of these principles. How often are our lives characterized by a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds!” King writes in Strength to Love,” published in 1963.

The book is comprised of a collection of sermons, primarily in the topic of racial segregation, with a strong emphasis on core Christian values. The book’s primary focus is on the importance and need of “agape” love among all people – the type of love that is selfless, courageous and kind.

King’s voice still resounds decades after his death, calling Americans to stand up for the biblical and moral principle that we are to love all God’s people, regardless of their race, nationality, or any other traits that differentiate us. That principle lies, not only behind King’s passionate voice, but also in the heart of Christ’s teachings.

This quote: “A persistent schizophrenia leaves so many of us tragically divided against ourselves,” was true four decades ago in our nation, and is still true today.

When King penned the famous “I have a dream” speech for the March on Washington, his preparation involved three main documents: the Bible, the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg address. From the concept that “all men are created equal” to Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, the unforgettable words in “I have a dream” will forever echo as a beacon for freedom, equality and democracy in America.

During his discourse, he called men to stand by and fight for the principles of freedom and justice, and yet, to remember that the end result should be unification, not division. In King’s own words: “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”

So many years have gone by since that hot summer day in 1963, when a massive group of marchers gathered around the Lincoln Memorial to hear King speak. But I believe that if Dr. King were to speak again today, his rhetoric would remain: Let us be careful not to proudly profess principles of justice, love and freedom, and yet subvert them with practices that are against the very principles we proclaim.

It is a message that should resound in all our hearts today, at a time when our nation seems to be divided once more: Let us fight for justice, and yet stand by the democratic principles that have built our nation. Let us fight to remain one nation under God. Let us fight against what Dr. King called “this strange dichotomy,” which often remains as the great and cruel divide between what we believe, and how we act.

This article was published in Patricia’s column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday January 21st, 2017.

Let's not profess principles of justice, love, freedom & yet subvert them with contradictions
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