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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The post The Key to Receiving God’s Best {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

No, I haven’t been gone for weeks or even days. My trip to the grocery store took less than an hour this time.

Indeed, it doesn’t matter how long I am gone, nor if I accidentally step on her pawn, my dog’s display of affection has never changed for the past nine years. Regardless of whether I ignore her presence beside the stove while cooking dinner, or caress her belly when watching TV, her eyes always send the same message:

I love you. I need you. I miss you. You are precious to me.

I remembered my dog’s “welcome home” ritual earlier this week, while riding south BR-101, Brazil’s main interstate. My mom and I were on our way to see my 96-year-old grandmother, one of the many people I visited during my short time here. I’ve been in the country for the past two weeks, visiting my Brazilian family, this time without my husband and children. It’s the first time I come alone since I moved to America 18 years ago.

Of all the times I’ve visited, this one has been especially emotional to me. Since I’ve been on my own, I have received and been able to offer undivided attention to my family. Everywhere I go, the display of love and appreciation fills my heart with joy. It’s a beautiful “welcome home” ritual in every house I visit, and each embrace conveys what a thousand words cannot express.

Living 6,000 miles away from my country and loved ones has changed the way I see all the important relationships in my life. I don’t take the time spent with my parents for granted anymore. Each laughter shared with my siblings and each moment with my best friend are held close to my heart, since it will be another year before we see each other again.

Many years ago, I was riding down I-75 to my first job in downtown Atlanta, praying and asking God to help me cope with the emptiness I felt inside. My mom had just returned home from a visit to America, and I was thinking about the days she spent at our home. Had I shown her the depth of my love? Had I been slow to judge and quick to forgive? Had I been wise and picked my battles, instead of allowing small aggravations to steal our precious time together? I knew the answer. Her visit could have been much better, had I been just a bit wiser.

Various situations played in my mind, when I spotted a sticker on the window of the car in front of mine. The simple words, written in bold white letters, spoke volumes:

“No Regrets.”

Given the other Surf and Rock Climbing stickers that the young lady collected on her car window, one could easily understand her meaning: Seize the day. Be adventurous. Don’t miss out on life.

But as I thought about those words, a deep conviction settled in, and “No Regrets” has become my life motto ever since. No, I have not climbed any mountains or surfed any waves since then. That day, however, while thinking about my relationships and how fast life passes by, I decided to live more intentionally, forgive much, choose my battles wisely, and, most of all, grab every opportunity to treasure those I love.

It’s amazing how pointless certain arguments can become, and how unimportant small differences can be, when you have to say goodbye to the ones you love. Should we live as if they were gone tomorrow, or simply if we could not hold them for another year, would petty things bother us so? I think not.

May God help us seize each day with our loved ones as if it were the last, and strive to live with no regrets.

Lord, help us seize each day with our loved ones as if it were the last, and strive to live with NO REGRETS.
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This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – November 25th, 2017.

The post Cherish Your Loved Ones… and Live with NO Regrets {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Several months went by when one of the farmer’s friends stopped to visit. While observing his friend’s barnyard, he was dumbfounded when he watched the king of all birds pecking around like a chicken, refusing to fly. Since it had learned to behave like a chicken, it was no longer an eagle. “Still,” he told his friend, “certainly this bird has the heart of an eagle. Allow me to show him who God designed him to be.”

The man took the eagle to the top of the house, urging him: “You are an eagle! Stretch your wings and fly!” But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self, and thus quickly jumped down to his familiar surroundings. But the man was determined. He took the bird to a mountaintop, where he lifted the eagle high above his head and said: “You belong to the sky! Soar, my friend!”

The eagle looked up, then down again, quickly jumping to the ground. But the man would not give up. Day after day he repeated the exercise, as the eagle became less frightened by the heights. Finally, one day the man lifted the eagle straight toward the sun, and it happened that the bird began to tremble. Slowly, he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, soared away into the heavens.

I’ve been a collector of eagle stories since my early teens. Some of them are true facts about this majestic bird, and others are simply tales that use the eagle’s makeup to illustrate a point.

In my favorite passage of Scripture, the prophet Isaiah used the imagery of a soaring eagle at the end of one of the most inspiring chapters in the Old Testament, where the prophet describes the greatness and inscrutability of almighty God.

When I read this eagle story for the first time, I could not help but think of how much my environment helped determine what I believed about myself during my formative years. I was blessed to be raised by parents who instilled in me the idea that I could accomplish anything, so long as I worked hard and kept my eyes fixed on my objectives. They encouraged me to face my fears and never back up from my beliefs. I am forever grateful for that.

But as I grew up, and as it often happens, I started listening to other voices. Voices that told me I was not good enough. Voices that laughed at my dreams and mocked my principles. Voices that called me away from a fulfilling and fruitful destiny.

Without realizing, I became insecure, fearful and anxious. The fearlessness and determination which, in my youth, filled my heart with the assurance that I could do anything, was replaced by a constant feeling of inadequacy and co-dependence. Even years of therapy did not erase the mighty voices that tried to silence the eagle in me. And so, I lived like the eagle in the barnyard for many years – designed for the heavenly heights, and yet content with a lowly life. Until God found me, took me to the mountaintop and started showing who he designed me to be.

I cannot help but wonder how many eagles are reading this column today, realizing that there has to be more to life than what they experience. Realizing that they have settled for a life that is far from what God has intended, either by compromising their beliefs and integrity by hanging out in the barnyard for way too long, or by refusing to acknowledge that they need help to come out of their current circumstances.

If that is you today, why don’t you give the Friend a chance to show you the heights of his wisdom, glory, mercy, forgiveness and grace? Maybe it’s time you believe in who he says you are: an eagle, beautifully designed to soar. Would you allow him to be the wind beneath your wings?

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

God designed you to be a soaring eagle. But are you living as a chicken in a barnyard?
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In addition to composing favorites such as “God Bless America” and “Easter Parade,” he also wrote “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which ranks as a best-selling musical score to this day.

In an interview for the San Diego Union, cartoonist and illustrator Don Freeman asked Berlin: “Is there any question you’ve never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?”

“Yes, there is one,” the composer quickly replied. “And the question is this: ‘What do you think of the many songs you’ve written that didn’t become hits?’”

His unexpected answer is memorable: “My reply would be that I still think they are wonderful.”

The story made me think of a conversation I had with my teenage daughter last week. We talked about how so many teenagers struggle with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and lack of confidence, to the extent that many kids are on medication for depression these days.

I remember fighting similar feelings as a teen, and I know that they are common during the teenage years, when so many kids struggle with their self-image and self-worth.

As a teenager, I remember thinking I was fat, ugly, loud, my nose was too big, my hair too awkward … and the list went on and on. Today I look at pictures of my youth and realize how mean I was to myself.

I was my own worse bully and didn’t know it.

As hard as things might have been for teens in the mid-’80s, when top-models started strutting their curves in international catwalks, bringing beauty standards to unprecedented heights, they don’t compare to what kids face today.

Instagram, Snapchat, Photoshop and special filters have created an aura of plastic beauty that makes our girls and boys feel less than, every second they scroll down their smartphone’s screen.

And then there are the “likes.” Oh, brother! I recently read an article about young teens purchasing “likes” and followers on Instagram. That just takes the cake.

Indeed, it seems as if constant positive affirmation has become the measure of love for this generation. And I am afraid many adults from my generation and beyond are falling into the same trap.

As wonderful as social media can be — a place where I can find friends I haven’t seen in decades and a place where I can keep up with my family and friends who live 6,000 miles away — it can also be a place of downright pretense. On our social media walls, we make sure our houses are always clean, husbands and wives are always in their best behavior, and the camera angle always gets our good side (after 24 attempts and 3 filters, of course.)

That is why, to many teenagers, reality is becoming ever more distorted and they are increasingly harder on themselves. Therefore, it’s time we, parents, put down our own phones and come to their rescue. Quickly. Even if that means pulling them away from social media for a while.

As I discussed these issues with my daughter, I could not help but think about how Irving Berlin’s words reflect how God sees his children:

You and I may not always feel worthy, or beautiful. Our houses may not always look perfect, and we may have relationships that need serious work. We may not receive many likes from this world, and our life songs may not always become best-sellers, even among those who love us the most.

But God loves the entire album, from our best hits, to the off-key chords. He has an unshakable love for whom He made. He loves our brokenness, forgives and restores when we fail. That’s the message we must repeat to ourselves, and convey to our children.

This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – August 19, 2017.

Constant positive social media affirmation has become the measure of love. Teens & parents. Read this!
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