When we hear the phrase immune system, most of us know what that means.  There are bottles and bottles of vitamins and such on the shelves of our grocery stores and smoothie recipes galore on our social media feeds all meant to help boost our immune system.

In simple terms, our immune system is how our bodies fight off infection, illness, and disease. Anytime something tries to attack or bring harm to our bodies, a healthy immune system steps in to protect us.

My husband, Jayton, is employed by a local hospital; specifically, he works in the cancer center of this hospital.  Daily, the immune systems of patients are discussed and evaluated.  Cancer treatment can wipe out a person’s immune system leaving them vulnerable to even the weakest of outside attacks.

One of Jayton’s responsibilities is to collect healthy stem cells for stem cell transplants.  Typically, this takes about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 days.  Often, the patients have family with them to assist and encourage them through the process.  Every once in a while, the patient goes through the process solo.

During one of these collections, Jayton spent these hours and days with a gentleman from an outlying west Texas town.  His family unavailable to drive him the hour or so each way, the patient was in need of someone to drive him back and forth to the hospital each day. Days one and two of the collection, deacons from this man’s church drove him into town, spent the five hours in his room with him, and then drove him back home for the evening.  On the third day, the pastor of the church was the one driving and spending the day with the patient.

After spending three days with these men who had given of their time to help a brother in need, Jayton commented to the pastor on how their sacrifice had made an impression on him.  The pastor humbly played down what they had done and made an analogy in his response…

He said that he sees the body of Christ like our immune system.  When one person has a need, problem or crisis, the Body acts like our white blood cells.  It drops its normal duties and steps in to surround, protect and assist to bring healing and restitution. 

What a word and what an example these men demonstrated that week!  I know that my “immune system” was boosted when Jayton came home and shared this with me that evening!

Today, I share this with you along with a challenge for us all.  Let’s put our knowledge and words into action!   Let’s be quick to act and generous with our time.  And let’s think of surrounding and coming to the aid of not just those in our Body but others as well.

Let’s be a healthy immune system!

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

* * *

Anne Zachary is a stay-at-home, homeschool mom who has to work hard to make time to actually be at home.

When I dropped out of college I never thought I would go back.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be, and was bored.  Shortly after moving to Lubbock and allowing God to restore me, I heard the call to ministry.  I knew school was part of this plan.  I applied to Lubbock Christian University and watched doors begin to swing wide open.  I was in awe of how God was moving.  In August 2010, graduation seemed like such a distant thought.  Over the past three years there have been times of struggle.  Balancing school, work, and life was overwhelming.  Living on a small budget was not always easy.  Making time for Jesus was hard. I thought I would never cross the finish line.  But I did.

Finishing school was taking back something the enemy had stolen from me.  He tried to steal my identity and call me a failure but God had other things in mind.  As I sit and reflect over the past three years, I know that walking across that stage is a direct result of God’s faithfulness in my life.  School was not something I did on my own strength.  He heard every prayer, saw every tear, and walked every step with me.  He surrounded me with people who prayed for and supported me.  He equipped me to fulfill this task.  Even though life on this side of the stage does not look like I thought it would, I could not be more thankful.  I am so thankful for what God has done so far.  I am excited about what lies ahead.  I look at what He has done so far and know that the best is yet to come.

May 4, 2013 was an amazing day.  I got to celebrate God’s faithfulness with my family and friends.  Here are some pictures from that day. Thank you for praying for me! Thank you for being a part of my support team!

 * * *

Blogger ID:

Sarah Nichols is a recent graduate of Lubbock Christian University!

What does life after graduation look like?  Not like I imagined. I had planned on moving and starting an adventure in a new city, but God had other plans in mind. I will be in Lubbock for a little while longer. I start my new job this week. It’s taken a little bit but I’m excited to see what God has for me in Lubbock.

What’s your favorite thing about not being a college student?  Reading and writing for fun. I’ve already finished one book and plan on reading many more.

Tell us about yourself and your family.

I was born in Kentucky, though I grew up in Maryland. After getting my teaching degree, I landed in prison, teaching a reintegration class for inmates.  It was the first job offered, so I took it until I figured out what I really wanted to do. God had other plans and used an inmate clerk to get my attention! I realized it was THE job God planned for me, when I finally accepted Him! I fell in love with encouraging my students to make better choices and not to waste their second chance.

Seasons changed, I moved to Lubbock and began teaching life skills classes for SPC at the county residential treatment center. The facility was not as harsh as the prison I left, but the brokenness was the same. My students were mostly young and in recovery from addictions, abuse, and for most – many levels of neglect.  I taught classes from a Christian cognitive behavioral therapy approach. Helping my students get excited about their future was a privilege.

Our Family ~

Jack and I are about to celebrate 15 years of marriage in July.  God allowed me to become an instant mom and grandmom that day!  Both kids were grown with families of their own. Marty and Pam live close by with their two boys, Jake and Jesse. Amy and Jason live in town. Granddaughters Erica and Erin are both in college and recently engaged. Amy’s younger three – Alex, Charlie and JJ- are still school aged.

Jack and I share an old farmhouse outside of town with a frisky mutt, Jedediah, and a few coyotes. We had a skunk visit last week.

How long have you attended Trinity and in what ways do you serve?

I started attending Trinity when I first learned of the opening of what is now my position. My season was changing and God clearly said “Trinity” when I asked him what was next. The job description on the website made my heart soar! The moment we entered the sanctuary we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and have loved our church home ever since!  Trinity has so much to offer God’s family – there is something for everyone.

What are you reading and listening to lately?

I’ve mostly focused on my new study Bible for several months, but just started Radical by David Platt.  I love listening to K-Love, and get especially pumped when Brandon Heath’s “I’m Not Who I Was” comes on the radio.

Tell us about one of your favorite places you have ever visited/traveled to?

Jack and I went on a road trip up the coast of California. We stopped at every worn spot on the side of Hwy 1 and had a blast discovering fantastic caves, rock cliffs, offshore arches, and waterfalls along the beaches from San Diego to north of Eureka. We then left the coast and crossed over to Yosemite after touring the redwoods. Magnificent!!

Brag a minute and tell us about one of your biggest accomplishments or proudest moments!

I have the best job ever and am so thankful for the opportunity at Outreach to share the love of Christ with the hurting. Nothing is better than seeing hope restored and lives changed! Following up with those we serve and seeing them progress is such a blessing.

When I was home earlier this past year, I asked Priscilla if she could say something to the women of the world, what would she tell them?  She opened her mouth, and I stood there in silence over what was pouring out.  I said to her, “Why don’t you write that down and I will put it on the blog?”  It didn’t even take a second for her to smile and say “sure”.

She retrieved her pencil and pad and started writing.   She was disappointed that she couldn’t remember everything she had told me but I reassured her that she could write anything that was coming to her mind in that moment, she was relieved.

What you are about to read are her words of encouragement for every woman! I thought this weekend would be great for women to receive a little bit of heaven here on earth.

~Gloria Toti

Mono Lake–An Endorheic Basin

It was a problem that plagued me.  Seriously.  For years, at various times, the problem would pop itself up in my mind–as I drove, as I got ready for bed or as I ran.

If you have ever driven by my house, you may have noticed it.

Our fence line is laced with big black pots that are supposed to sport a big bushel of red geraniums.  If I remember to water, fertilize and dead head on a regular basis, they do…all except one pot.  Things will start out beautiful, but over the course of a few weeks, the blossoms will fail and the leaves will begin to wither.

I noticed that water really wasn’t draining from the pot, so I drilled a new drain hole.  I thought that perhaps the soil mixture was too heavy, so I dug out half of it and replaced it with a light potting soil.

Finally, this year, I decided to start fresh and I emptied the entire pot…and found the culprit.  When I create my pot mix–1/3 top soil, 1/3 potting soil and 1/3 organic matter–I just grab an empty plastic container to “shovel” it into the pots.  It appears that one of those stayed in the mix and had lodged itself along the bottom of the pot–effectively stopping any drain holes.

Some of you may be scratching your heads.  ”What’s a drain hole?”  When you water plants, you want the water to flow in the top, travel throughout the soil and then the excess will drain out the bottom.  This allows for a fresh flow of nutrients throughout all the roots.  When water is trapped, it becomes stagnant and (as seen above) the plant can die.

This premise is seen all throughout nature.

The most vibrant lakes have a water source that flows into them and another that flows out.  The opposite is the endorheic basins.  Here water flows in through rivers and natural drainage, but nothing flows out.  We know these water bodies by names such as The Dead Sea, The Great Salt Lake and Devil’s Lake.  (Do you see a theme?)  The only way water leaves these lakes is through evaporation–which takes the pure H2O and leaves all the minerals, salts and pollutants.  The concentration of these grow over time and can create some pretty ugly situations.  (See Salton Sea)  There is no control over the lake levels.  Years of drought can cause them to shrink or disappear.  Years of rain cause uncontrolled flooding–as seen at Devil’s Lake where the water level grew 25 feet destroying 100s of homes, businesses and countless acres of farmland.  State officials decided to stop the madness and proposed a way for the lake to drain into the Sheyenne River.  Neighboring states joined Canada in immediately crying foul as the centuries of pollutants and parasites from Devil’s Lake would be pouring into their pristine water streams.  I tell you, water is serious business.

When God wants to make a point, He makes sure we can’t ignore it.

It’s a law of nature–for things to flourish, water must flow in and out. All throughout the Bible, God and His Word is equated with water–life giving water.

Sometimes we become Great Salt Lakes.  Especially after a tough time, we allow others to pour into us.  We sit and absorb His Word.  We can even pray 24/7, but the circle of our prayer ends with ourselves–or a few select people.  Here is the danger.  We can become stagnant.  You West Texans know what breeds in standing water…mosquitos.

God promises us that

“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”  Isaiah 58:10

In other words, as you allow the life giving water to flow from you, you will find your own life brightened as the noonday sun.

Start small.  Send a text to one person a day giving them encouragement.  Sign up to help with a service project at church.  Smile and make eye contact with the checker at the grocery store.  It’s amazing what the small things will do.  Soon you will find yourself signing up for R2R (shameless plug) where you can be a part of something so much larger than yourself.

So, today, make it a point to allow God to flow in you and throughout you.  You will blossom, flourish and be a joy to all those around you.

You can’t argue…God said it.

* * *

Deanna Duncan is a Lifegroup leader, Prize31 author, wife, mom and photographer.

Have you ever had that “Footprints” feeling?  That thought that, “I’m not seeing God, so I guess He must be carrying me!”  I have to admit, I’ve felt like that a couple of times over the last four years.  I know that God is there, but it’s just so hard to see him through circumstances.  My husband has on several occasions reminded me that God is ALWAYS faithful!

My family is and will be experiencing transition in several areas over the next several months.  We have had to step out in faith, and I can truly say that I have seen God show up repeatedly.

I was struggling with some events that I knew were coming up, and I knew that each of the events would cause my husband and me to make some decisions that are potentially life changing for the members of our family.  Some of these were unexpected, and others were a long time coming.  It was pretty scary and I really needed to hear from God.  Thankfully, I was able to attend a women’s conference at Gateway Church and just get out of Lubbock, away from daily responsibilities, and relax and spend some time with the Lord.   He showed up (of course) over and over and really gave me peace about the future.  He took away some bitterness that I felt building in my heart and replaced it with confidence and faith.  At one point of the conference, on our way out the door, everyone was handed a small envelope that had a card with something typed on it.  I jokingly made the ladies around me wait for just the right moment to go out the door so I got exactly the word that God had for me.  I quit laughing when I opened up my envelope and read this:

It was an eloquent way of expressing exactly how I felt, coupled with the encouragement/reminder that God SEES me.  He knows my struggles, and is working behind the scenes to help me through them!  What a blessing to receive such a tangible proof of God’s faithfulness!

I came back to Lubbock and began to act on the decisions that had to be made.  The very day I began to feel discouraged, a coworker brought me this flower.

She had attended an event and was offered a flower.  She thought of me and picked one up to bring me.  She explained that this one reminded her of me, because although it is beat up around the edges, there is still a beautiful bloom.  She then pointed out all the new growth around it.  What an encouraging word!

Friends, I have shared these intimate stories from my life with you simply to encourage you!  Please know that God sees you and knows what you are going through, and He ALWAYS shows up!

* * *

Meredith Mitchell is a Core Team member on the Prize Women Leadership Team.

“Oh God, chisel me.  I don’t want to be stuck in my hard places forever.”

~ Lysa TerKeurst

This statement was one of many that I found myself underlining in Lysa TerKeurst’s book: Unglued.   When I learned she had an accompanying study, I knew that my Lifegroup and I would be traveling into unglued territory.

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to present the second lesson to the class, and I want to continue the learning with you because it was so profound.

The DVD played and there it was —Michelangelo’s chiseled masterpiece

David

The sculptured beauty we all admire

We all sat and listened and marveled at the ability of this artist.  But we were not ready for what happened next.   She told us that although she was impressed with the magnificent sculpture of David, there were other sculptures that spoke about her life in a profound way…

She then moved over a few steps in the museum, and now she was standing before chunks of stone that had only been partially chiseled by Michelangelo.

The top of the sculpture was beautiful, but the bottom was still just a chunk of stone in raw form.   Yet others were complete on the bottom but untouched by the chisel at the top.

—Ironically, the works are called The Prisoners

The chunks of stone that dreamed of being complete masterpieces are now locked behind a label.  

Lysa was honest; she told us how labels had continuously played a big role in keeping her a prisoner in her own hard places.  She knew she was an inmate in the prision of her own design, and didn’t believe she could ever be free… well, that was until she allowed The Artist to begin chiseling.

I don’t know about you, but when I hear a national speaker say something like that, it is easy to think that they have arrived.  Stamped with the sign of approval.  But not this gal. Lysa was candid, and she shared how she has not arrived.   She is just busy taking a few more steps towards ‘imperfect progress’.

She reminded us that we have a choice to pick up the labels and slap them on each time we become unglued, or we can choose to refuse them.

She told us that unglued moments reveal that we just need a little more chiseling, that’s it!

Well, that was great news.  You see, I have to admit that I have had a few more meltdown/unglued moments in the past two weeks than I had planned on having.  Ugh!  This study is very timely…

Only Michelangelo knew what was planned for the stones that are now frozen in time, and only God the Master artist knows what is planned for each of us as we refuse to be found stuck in our hard places.

So the next time you fail, ask God to chisel and get busy moving toward another step of imperfect progress…

 “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  

Ephesians 2:10

.

.

* * *

Gloria Toti is the Director of Prize Trinity Women’s Ministry.

I was agitated. I had a long day at work. The lasagna I made took 4x as long to make and clean up than it did to eat, and no one was even all that impressed by it.

I was busy getting the last of dinner put away before we needed to jet out the door to get to my 5th grade son Ryan’s baseball game. As I rinsed the final dish I said to my 1st grade daughter, “Lauryn, I need you to brush your hair and get your shoes on your feet. Right now. We’ve gotta go.”  I ran upstairs to toss a load of clothes in the dryer and pull on my shoes.  Jog back down the stairs… to see Lauryn still sitting in the middle of the living room floor.  Hair a mess.  No shoes.  Clearly day dreaming.

The agitation I mentioned in paragraph one had now escalated.

I stopped. Looked at her. And thought, “I cannot think of a consequence for her at this moment.  My brain is fried.  I am annoyed.  I am late.  She is not ready to go.  What consequence is appropriate here….other than letting loose with the “Are you KIDDING me right now?!?!” speech that I wanted to spew all over her messy-headed self.  In my agitation, I was baffled as to what I should even say or do.

Then, in that still small voice, I hear the Lord say “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask the Father who gives graciously to all without finding fault.”

Okay then, Lord.  I need some help here.  I need some wisdom.

Then, “Look at her.”

I see her, Lord.  She’s shoeless with messy hair and she is making me late.

“Look again. Look.”

I see her, Lord.  Okay, yes.  Yes…. [deep breath] I see.  She’s seven, and precious, and caught up in her own sweet world that’s full of innocent daydreams. But Lord, she clearly disobeyed.  I told her to brush her hair.  Find her shoes.  She didn’t.  What now?

“Grace.”

Grace?

“Yes. Grace.  Lighten up.  She can put her shoes on in the car, and the baseball fields don’t require combed hair for entrance. It’s okay.  Take a breath, and enjoy her.  Gather her up sweetly, guide her with shoes in hand to the car, and go watch your boy play some baseball.”

Oh. Okay. Yes. I guess I can do that.

———-

At the ball fields, a hat covering up that unbrushed hair!

And so off we went. The Holy Spirit gifted me with a change of heart: From agitation…to enjoyment. From wanting to discipline her (not for her benefit, but because I was annoyed)….to extending grace.  He is so, so good to answer when we call to Him. Sometimes the answer saves the mood of the entire evening. I so enjoyed riding to baseball singing along to the radio together, rather than spending the drive lecturing!

Obviously, I am all for kids learning to be quick to obey, and I expect that my kids respect me by doing what I ask. But I’m grateful for a God who sees the whole picture and knows when a mom needs to be reminded to just take a breath and lighten up. Sometimes, it’s just a pair of shoes.

Starr Cliff

Senioritis:   A disease of 17-18 year olds that begins in August of the senior year and progresses to a nearly fatal condition following Spring Break.

Symptoms:  Sleepiness to the point of physical inertia; falling grades; forgetfulness; crying; rebellion; overconfidence; apathy; consistent bad hair days; disheveled appearance

100% Cure:  Graduation

Senioritis is a very real disease!  Every year, I must nurse about 50 kids through it.  I once heard a great analogy for the senior year:  It is like a shoe that has gotten way too tight but must be worn for nine more months.

We have all known people who were great starters but who fizzled out in the end.  We celebrate the victories and heroism of the overcomers who not only run the race well but finish well.  It is the Olympic runner who gets up from falling and limps toward the finish line, joined arm in arm with his dad who has come out of the stands to help him across.  No one will forget the picture of that finish line.

As I write this, I realize that I have some senioritis too.  There are papers to grade, tests to revamp, Great Gatsby to reread quickly so I can teach it.  My to-do list is buried under notes for the new curriculum next year.  I have senioritis every year too – I just don’t get to graduate!  However, I will barrel on through and drag 50 kids behind me (all quoting Hamlet’s soliloquy!).

The Lord approves highly of the strong finish:

• When an imprisoned John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, Jesus sent word that “The blind see, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matt. 11:5).  Jesus was reminding him to finish well – even unto death.
• When Paul was ending his days and his writing, he himself noted that “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).
• And Jesus own words from the cross – “It is finished” (John 19:30) – remind us that He too had a mission to complete – at all costs.  And no one has ever finished better than our Lord.

The strong finish, in a word, is perseverance.  Peter lays out the greatest advantage of “hanging in there”:  fruitfulness and growth in the faith.

“. . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,

…..To virtue, knowledge,

……….To knowledge, self-control,

……………To self-control, perseverance,

……………….To perseverance, godliness,

……………………To godliness, brotherly kindness,

………………………..And to brotherly kindness, love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Christ Jesus.  (II Peter 1:5-8).

What an incredible promise!  Oh, the riches that are ours if we persevere!

And yes, I’m whistling “Pomp and Circumstance” as I sign off and prepare for a new week.

* * *

Marilyn Garrett is English Department Chair for Trinity Christian Junior/Senior High School.