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Articles by Brenda Lancaster

CALM IN THE STORM

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“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39

BEAUTY FROM THE STORM (1)A big shout-out to a very kind lady named Sharon from AAA in Greensboro, N.C. I shared with you how she made me feel special during a rainstorm last year… a day I was filled with stress and angst over locking my keys in the car during a time crunch.  She encouraged me and offered mercy right when I needed it most.  Her kindness hit straight to my heart in a way that brought healing tears to my soul that day. I have no doubt the Lord brought her voice to my ears at the exact moment I really needed someone to care, and not to judge.

Sharon actions reminded me how important it is for us to treat people with kindness because we never know what they might be going through. Even the smallest acts of kindness – a bright smile, a touch on the shoulder, a wave of the hand for someone to go in front of you, can be just what a person needs to feel a bit of calm in the midst of the storms of life. God uses those acts of kindness. It serves as Him with skin on.

Storms come in all sizes and strengths. Some are refreshing blasts of thunder, lightening, and rain on a stormy afternoon. Some are whirlwinds or tornados that are brief, but deadly. Some are major ice and snowstorms causing power outages that last for days.

But one thing is for certain. Kindness, understanding, and offers of prayer from an unexpected source, can go a long way in helping someone weather any kind of storm.

But the greatest help of all is when we gently remind others that the peace of Jesus can still reign in our hearts. Because He has the power to bring calm in the storms of life.

So, everywhere we encounter people today, let’s remember that even the smallest act of kindness can encourage a struggling heart. After all Jesus does for us, it’s the least we can do for each other.

Until Wednesday,

Your Traveling Partner,

Brenda

 

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAY’S

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“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”

Psalm 4:4, KJV
100_0220After trying everything to get into my car, the only thing to do was call our trusted AAA office. Again. And sit here under this cold and open portico, with winter monsoon rains crashing all around. And fret about my next appointment and how late I would be. And fret about the Daily Doses I needed to be home writing. And what a waste of precious time this was! So, I prayed.

“Lord, I’m sorry for wasting precious time. I know this is the second time in a just a few months I’ve let this happen and it’s not redeeming the time. I feel so stupid!”

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” Psalm 4:4 KJV

I wasn’t hearing Him.

The AAA lady said it would only be a few minutes, but the phone ringing in my pocket put a knowing dread in my heart. The driver yawned while saying, “It’ll be at least an hour and fifteen minutes…” 

“But the AAA lady said…”

“I’m ten miles away. Sorry lady.”

Ten miles? An hour and fifteen minutes? I think I heard him grin.  

With hot tears of discouragement burning my eyes, I now felt stupid and defeated. And lower than a snail. “This is crazy,” I thought, redialing AAA. This time a sweet girl by the name of Sharon answered the phone. Feeling my own chin quiver as it touched the ground, I told her that this predicament was my own fault, but would it be possible for anyone to get there sooner than an hour and fifteen minutes.

With one of the kindest voices I’ve ever heard, she spoke as if she’s know me all my life, “I know you’re a very busy woman and don’t have time for this. But don’t let it discourage you. Just remember you can’t wear a big S on your t-shirt all the time. You don’t have to be Superwoman.”

So I cried. Her kindness and encouraging words hit me right between eyes. Then she really blew me away. “It’s going to be alright. We’ll have someone there in 15 minutes and I pray you’ll have a good day.”

It had been a long time since someone’s kindness brought me to tears and to my knees. She reminded me that He was with me through the struggle, even one as simple as keys locked in a car. She reminded me I don’t have to be Superwoman to please Him.

And neither do you. Let’s both learn a lesson from this week’s Dose. Ya hear? J

Until Next Time,

Your Traveling Companion,

Brenda

GOTTA RUN – IT’S MISSION SEASON AGAIN!

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“Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! “ 

Psalm 46:10, Amplified Bible (AMP)

MONDAY, GOTTA RUN - IT'S MISSION SEASON AGAIN!Well, here it is time to head out to Nicaragua again! It seems like only yesterday that we were there seeing God’s hand at work in a mighty way – yet it’s already been a year!  It also seems like yesterday that the stresses of getting ready to go led to a lesson that I desperately needed to learn!  Reminisce with me today, as I tell a little story of what happened last year as I was three days out from leaving on mission:            

I can’t believe I’m sitting here under a shelter, in the pouring down rain, freezing, waiting for AAA to come unlock my car! On one of the busiest days I’ve had in months, and that’s saying something for this sixty-something crazy woman.

I was out and about, as usual doing 20 things at once. Screeching to a halt in front of Basset furniture store, I tucked my keys in the front pocket of my bag and made a mad dash through basketball sized raindrops with ice crystals to the entrance. Well maybe not basketball sized, but it sure felt that way!  With wet hair glued to my head, and entering the door to the designer showroom, I glanced about madly hoping to see THE chair—one to match the 10 year old, gently used one, sitting in my living room.  I know. Fat chance of that happening. 

Not seeing the chair at first glance, I sprinted up and down the isles—well-to be fair, that’s an exaggeration too since I don’t run unless something is chasing me. But, I did do the elbow walk, you know the one where your heels pound the pavement while your elbows pretend to run.

A very sweet lady by the name of Brenda must have been more than a like-named gal.  Seeming to recognize my panic, she walked up to me sweet as pie and said, “What can I help you find?” Lucky for me I knew the name of the classic Basset piece needed to match the one in the living room. “Right this way, she grinned.” She knew she had a live one. And, bless her heart, she did, right on up until I realized I’d have to sell my firstborn to buy it. Understanding my plight she offered to poke around in the computer inventory and see if she could find a suitable mate for the loner sitting in my living room.

After exchanging phone numbers, I high-tailed it out the front door, feeling lucky to have only wasted 10 minutes in hot pursuit of treasure. Fishing for my keys in the front bag pocket , I felt a dull thud in the pit of my stomach and an all too familiar rush of panic. Oh no, not again. Thinking out loud, “I know I put them in the front pocket of my bag…oh no I brought in the wrong bag!” Sitting there on my front seat, as pretty as a daisy, was my handbag, keys poking out of the front zippered pocket. 

“What are trying to tell me Lord?”

“Be still and know that I am God …”  

“Now? You’ve got to be kidding me …”

Don’t forget to join me on Thursday for the rest of the story!

Your Traveling Partner,

Brenda