Something Very Real is Happening

I had to do it. I just couldn't believe it had taken me this long. There was no resistance. I'd just let life and laziness get in the way. That's the honest answer. So, finally, on what was to be the last night, I showed up at the Burlington Revival, an old-fashioned tent meeting in North Carolina that I was sure would take me back to my roots, days past of more than 30 years, when I'd worshiped God underneath a humble tent filled with like-minded worshipers.

I expected it to be a nostalgic experience. It was so much more!

If you haven't heard of the Burlington Revival, whether you are a believer or not, the story is fascinating. It was never meant to happen.

A local church planned a week-long revival, as some churches do, and invited an out-of-town evangelist as God's man of the hour.  Unbeknownst to them, it would be the beginning of something farther reaching than their church walls. And, unbeknownst to the surrounding community, members of this church had been praying for God to bring revival beyond their local congregation and into the community, for 10 to 15 years. Wait....what? God saw fit to answer their prayers in 2016. It began on Mother's Day, continued week after week until the church couldn't hold all the folks showing up, and moved to the big tent.

Now, maybe it's a coincidence (but I think not) that 2016 has brought an increase in violent crime in the area, and it appears to be gang-related. In fact, as the tent revival continues (yes, it's been extended), vigils have been and are being held in various locations, concerned citizens who are passionate to stop the violence.

Despite all the hurt and pain throughout our community, God is here. No doubt about it. Not just under the tent, but He is here in our hearts, making Himself more real than some of us have ever seen in our lifetimes.

So, last night, underneath the tent, not only did God show up, I did too.

As folks gathered the atmosphere was filled with expectancy. Even though I'd heard the crowds had filled the tent, even spilling over outside to the tune of 5,000+ people, I was amazed by the sight.

As one entity, we stood, clapped and sang. I felt a freedom to worship and it seemed no one held back. We experienced God, together. Then C.T. Townsend, the evangelist, took the stage. I was amazed by his passion coupled by humbleness as he gave God the glory for the great work He is doing in our community.

A thought came to me. We (our collective community) have a heart problem. Not just those of us who were sitting beneath the tent desiring for a closer walk with God, but also those who have been caught up in the violence, both the victims and the perpetrators. It's a heart problem.

Warning: I'm stepping up on my soapbox. Feel free to come along for the ride.

We, as a society, have 'preached' tolerance so loud and so long, we've gotten away from a lifestyle that promotes peace: Christianity. And, in the name of tolerance, we've become intolerant of those who call themselves Christians. We accept other religions as beautiful and shun this one. Even those of us who are Christians have been indoctrinated by this 'tolerance dogma' so much so that we feel apologetic (albeit ashamed?) of our faith and are resistant to freely worship the God we claim to love and serve. This, too, is a heart problem. (If you're a Christian, remember, Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." -Mark 8:38)

If our hearts were truly set toward God, if we desired and actively sought after what was best for ourselves, our families, our society, each other, if we put our own selfish desires aside, what a huge and wonderful difference it would make. (Hey, I'm talking to me as much as to whomever reads this.)

And it begins with one. With me. Join me? 

Last night I watched as over 30 people, young and old, male and female, a couple sets of twins, my friend's daughter, gather at the altar, making life-changing decisions. This is what our community needs, a change of hearts. (Thanks to the folks of that local congregation, New Hope Baptist Church, Pastor Randy Hobbs and other folks that prayed.)

In today's world, we aren't always open to change, to what is different from our norm. Some may look at what's happening beneath the tent, the type of worship, and think, "Yeah, I'm a Christian, but that's just not my thing." And that's okay. Worship comes in many forms. Worship in the way God has given you to worship, whether it's quieter, louder, more contemporary, just worship and adore Him. And know, that whether it's 'your thing' or not, a good work is being done and it's time for Christians to celebrate together, in spirit and in truth, for the good of our community and all mankind. After all, we won't be in separate corners in Heaven so let's allow the love of God within our hearts today to bring us together, for God's purpose, here on Earth.

Stepping down off the soapbox now. Thanks for coming along for the ride. 

And now, the rest of the story...
As the service under the tent concluded, those who had rode shuttles were urged to leave first as a storm was coming which was indicative of the thunder beginning to roar. My friend, her daughter and I exited the tent and made a beeline for an empty van. Just as we filled it up, we learned that that vehicle was not one of the shuttles. Oops! (Apologies to whomever owns that van.) By the time we exited there was a long line of folks waiting for shuttles. Now we were at the back of the line. And now, as the lightning, thunder and wind picked up, the skies began to pour. I told my friend's daughter, "Not only did you get saved tonight, now you're getting baptized!" Seeing a group of people running toward a small tent for shelter, we followed suit. Huddled beneath the tent, drenched to the bone, I noticed it was held up with metal rods and the lightning was raging. I didn't speak it but I thought, "Well, if God sees fit, He could take us all home in one fell swoop." (I did ease a bit further from the metal pole beside me.) As the next round of shuttles came down the road, my friend's daughter (a teenager) took off running. We ran too. Now, somehow, before I took off, I was under the delusion I could keep up with a teenager. Obviously, the rain had seeped into my brain and distorted my thinking. Still, we managed to get there and, thankfully, took our seats. Hallelujah! I reckon God decided to spare us for another day. And I'm perfectly okay with that.

Much love, no apologies,
Jean

Jean Bailey Robor, author of She Has a Big 'But'! Get Past Your Excuses & Realize Your Dreams, is available for conferences, keynotes and workshops. View her profile and book her on SpeakerMatch.com or contact her via email to set up a time to talk.

 

What is it about “FREE” and the Chick-fil-a App?

He said, “If it’s free, it’s for me!” quite frequently. So much so, that, even though Johnny’s been gone almost 15 years, I still remember that (“tagline,” if you will) when I think of him. And it makes me smile.

What is it about the word “free” that draws us or repels us? Think of this: 1. You receive an email from an unknown source with the capitalized “FREE” in the subject matter. If you’re like me, you immediately consider it a scam, junk, someone trying to entice us so they can sell us later on down the road. 2. You see a new app from your favorite restaurant. If you download it, you’ll get a free chicken sandwich. Again, if you’re like me, you download that sucker. Free food! Woohoo!

Chances are, if we own a device to download the app, we can afford to buy the chicken sandwich. So what’s the big deal?

People do business with those they like, know and trust. An errant email from an unknown source breaks all those rules. I don’t know them or their business; therefore, there’s no relationship to base on like and trust. If I get a similar email from a known source, especially someone I have a personal connection with, I tend to trust it. Oh, this speaker coach is providing free resources. Cool. I know they also have products for sale and there will probably be a mention of them at the end of the article, video, podcast or e-book, but I’m cool with that. I know they aren’t going to share my email or scam me. That’s where the like and trust comes in.

Three days after Chik-fil-a introduced their One App, over a million people had downloaded it. A million! In three days! (Yeah, that makes me one in a million.) Obviously, there is a lot of “like, know and trust” going on. Their brand is known for reaching out to families, with their cow-costumed employees, Daddy-Daughter Date Nights, and how employees treat each customer with respect. They make it easy to like, know and trust their business.

So, here I am, Chik-fil-a app at the ready to “cash in” my free chicken sandwich. And yes, those receipts stuffed in my purse? Free sausage biscuits from Biscuitville from taking their survey. (I like, know and trust them, too!) Johnny would have loved it.

Maybe I eat too much fast food, y’all.

But that’s a story for another day…

Rock on,

Jean Bailey Robor

That “No Buts About It” Expert

www.JeanBaileyRobor.com

Jean Bailey Robor is an award-winning speaker and author of “She Has a Big ‘But’! Get Past Your Excuses & Realize Your Dreams.” Book her for your next event through www.SpeakerMatch.com or email Jean@JeanBaileyRobor.com. 

That Darn Straw!

You know the one. The one that broke the camel’s back. If you’re unfamiliar with the proverb “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” it simply refers to a situation where challenging things are happening, your stress levels are rising, and the last thing that pushes you over the top is the “straw.”  The straw doesn’t have to be the most stressful thing; it can actually be the least stressful. It’s simply that last thing. Just like that camel carrying a heavy weight of straw until finally, it’s just too much. And over the edge you go!

That happened to me last night. Fortunately, I caught the edge and, while not gingerly (unless you’re referring to the redhead in me), at least little by little and with great effort, I pulled myself (with some help) back up over the edge and into the world of sanity once more.

Have you ever felt like that? Like if just one more thing happens…..and then it does.

For me, the proverbial straw started with a warning. There was a raging thunderstorm outside, lots of lightning, flash-flooding rains. In the midst of it, I heard a crash. It was so loud it even startled my nearly-deaf dog, Maxie. I saw her head turn toward the spare room. At first I suspected a tree limb, then realized there were no trees on the front side of the house. In mere seconds it dawned on me that the sound had come from inside the house. I opened the door to the spare room and there it was….the straw. It was disguised as pieces of wet ceiling and rain water gracing the floor, the dresser, the book case with their unwanted presence.

And, deep inside, the stress inside me began to multiply.

And over the edge I went.

Now, you have to know that this, in and of itself, would, more than likely, not have pushed me over. But, you know how it is, stress builds upon stress which builds upon stress until finally…..

As I struggled with a solution, not just to that but all the other stress factors, I experienced yet another sleepless night which culminated in a headache and possibly even a few tears. Then I woke to the realization that, oh yes, this was the day that began with a much-needed (and often postponed) dentist appointment. Oh the joy. (Can ya feel it?)

Now you need to know, I like my dentist. In fact, I’ve been going to the same dental office all my life (that’s not an exaggeration; I literally mean “all my life”). It’s just that I’m not so fond of what happens when I get there. Fortunately today, after all was said and done, even x-rays, I walked away with a clean bill of health and a gentle urging to floss more.

But that’s not all that happened. Somehow, when I made the appointment several months ago, there must have been some Divine intervention on picking just this day, the day after the edge. And there were a number of factors involved. Here’s what happened:

• The night the straw broke my back, it was late. There was literally no one to vent to, commiserate with or otherwise share the joyous news. So, of course, I began by asking God, “Can’t you just do a miracle and fix that mess in there?” Obviously, while He is in the miracle-making business, this wasn’t something He chose to spend his time on. (After a few minutes, I got over that.) However, He did lead me to a passage of Scripture as I lay there and opened the Bible app on my phone. Romans 8:18. That verse was made for times like this! (Read it here.)

• The next morning, I texted a couple of friends, just asking for prayer. Their responses confirmed that there are good faith-filled people in this world that will pray for you at the drop of a hat, without even knowing your struggle, if you just ask.

• At the dentist, I was informed it was time to, once again, fill out a medical history document. As I handed it back in, the receptionist looked up, “That was quick!” I glanced down to see I’d checked ‘no’ after all but one medical condition. And then it hit me, pushing me right back up over the edge from which I’d fallen.  And it left me wondering how I could, in the midst of some challenging circumstances, have missed one of God’s greatest blessings. He’s given me, at least for now, pretty good health, a real blessing when I have so much, and so many, to care for.

Then, as I drove away to the office, I began to thank Him for the blessings, not just for my health, but for the means to make a living and the family and friends it takes to make a life. Wow! Somehow the challenges I was facing paled in comparison. (Hey, I have a couple more grandkids on the way!) And somehow, making the call to the insurance company and getting the ball rolling on that front, took some of the stress off, knowing a fix was coming.

The sentiments of my ‘prayer partners’ reminded me of the power in asking and receiving what we ask for. One response was “I always pray for you.” The other “You are always in my thoughts and, now, in my prayers as well.” Then there was the suggestion to, being the music lover that I am, sing my favorite hymn. I tuned my car radio to KLOVE; that’s where my most favorite music resides. Wouldn’t you know it, the song playing was “Flawless” by MercyMe: “No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars, still the truth is the cross has made you flawless.” Not long after that was “You’re an Overcomer” by Mandisa encouraging me to “stay in the fight til the final round.” (If you haven’t heard it, check it out. The words will pump you up!) I found myself singing along. I didn’t even mind the looks I was getting on the highway. Some days you just can’t worry about what other people think.

courtesy of photos-for-you.com

Then I thought about that straw. I knew when I walked into the house, pieces of ceiling would be hanging down threatening to fall. I knew I’d have to dump out the water I’d caught in the big green container I hastily threw on top of of the dresser last night. And I knew that, no matter what, even when I’m pushed over the edge, I don’t have to stay there. I can come back to this side of sanity, even when dealing with the stress that threatens it. Best of all, I knew that someone, like you, would be reading this, and maybe be encouraged by it, as you’re facing your proverbial straw today.

And, that, my friends, makes everything worth it.

Keep on keeping on,

Jean

To Eat It or Not to Eat It: That Is The Question

I recently saw a notice from the Department of Health and Human Services. Yes, some days I do some light reading. This one caught my attention: Studies to Evaluate the Safety of Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Human Food.  

Huh?

As a consumer of ‘human food,’ I felt it would behoove me to find out more, to know if I am, somehow, consuming veterinary drugs, inadvertently.  I mean, are food manufacturers apt to accidentally spill some doggie drugs into the cake mix? And, if so, is the study being conducted for food safety to deem that it’s okay, no harm done, feed the people the tainted food anyway?

I had to know.

So, I did what any intelligent, and slightly paranoid, person would do: I kept reading.

Turns out, that isn’t the scenario at all. I breathed a sigh of relief. (You can too. Sort of.)

From what I can deduce, and I’m no authority on the subject, the study is being conducted to ensure, if there are any drugs given to the animals we use as food, those drugs won’t affect us unfavorably.  In researching further, words and phrases like “genotoxicity,” “gene mutation,” and “potential aneugenic and/or germ cell effects”   were being thrown around. I felt a measure of concern and realized I need to pay better attention to what I’m putting in my body and serving to my family.

Of course, now I’m thinking maybe the vegans had it right all along. Maybe I should re-think consuming meat, at least until the study is complete. Or go organic, free range, the grapefruit diet, bread & water….

But when that pepperoni pizza is calling…..

What would YOU do?

Ravenously yours, 

Jean

He Saved Me from a Shower

A couple of days ago, I went with a few guys from the office to the building next door for lunch. There’s a little catering business in there and they’ve accommodated us by setting up a cafeteria-style line four days a week. On this particular day, we took the 3-minute hike over and enjoyed a nice lunch. Just as we prepared to leave, the bottom fell out. Now, for you Southerners, I’m sure you know that means: it was raining outdoors. And not a little wimpy Spring shower, but raining cats and dogs! (Another popular expression which may or may not be limited by these here Southern borders.)

There we were, staring through the glass door, having conversations such as:

“I think the sky’s lightening up; maybe it’ll stop soon.”

“What the….It’s only supposed to be a 30% chance of rain!”

“I can’t believe I left my umbrella at my desk!”

“I can’t believe I’m gonna be sitting at my desk the rest of the afternoon, cold and wet.”

“Dang. The closest Uber is 15 minutes away.” (This from the guy from San Diego)

“Really? North Carolina has Uber?”

FYI- In case you haven’t heard of Uber, this company boasts rides that are “better, faster, and cheaper than a taxi.” 

There we stood, forlorn, as the rain continued to pelt the pavement before us.

Apparently, the guy at the security desk took pity on us. He handed us a brand new umbrella, saying, “Here you go. Just bring it back the next time you come in.”

Simple. Straight-forward. Saving me, and my buddies, from a mid-day shower. (And one that was none too warm.) On the way back, San Diego said, “That would never happen in California. People here are so nice.” It made me feel good that one of my North Carolinians had represented our Southern hospitality so well. By now we were heading out the door, the sky really was lightening up a bit, and the security guard had returned to his desk.

Have you ever just wanted to turn around and hug somebody? In that moment, I felt just like that. And while I didn’t hug him, I thought, what can I do to brighten up this security guard’s day? The answer came as I was preparing to return the umbrella the following day. I stopped by the store, bought some fresh chocolate chip cookies, enough for him and his coworkers. It was a small price to pay to be saved from a rain shower.

The smile on his face was all it took to know I’d made his day. It warmed my heart.

My favorite Leo Buscaglia quote sums it up best: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

You have the power to turn a life around. Every day your choices can make or break another person’s day. A simple choice to extend a smile, a helping hand, or a prayer, might just make someone’s day and save them from a cold rain shower or something more. 

And somehow, I believe, when you do that, you’ll make God smile.

Jean

Finding the Way to Your Happy Place

Today was just like any other weekday. Neither bad nor good. A bit ordinary. Then, one of my colleagues brought in cake for the entire department. It wasn’t just ANY cake; it was pound cake. And it wasn’t just ANY pound cake. It was homemade! Yum! She has shared with me that she finds baking therapeutic and does it often. She said it would be a perfect happy place if it just didn’t cost money. Several of us are Weight Watcher-ing it, too, so we’re careful in our splurging. But this was CAKE, y’all! As I was slicing a piece of heavenly goodness, a thought came to mind: “Every good thing costs money and Weight Watcher’s points.”

Do you have something in your life that takes you to your happy place? Something that helps relieve the stresses you pick up during the day? Something that will help you lay those stresses down, even if for only a moment?

If not, it’s time to go in search of your happy place. Here’s a few questions that can help steer you in the right direction:

1.       What would you love to do if money were no object?

2.       What makes you smile and lightens your heart?

It may take a moment to thoroughly answer those simple questions. No problem. I can wait.

[Insert the theme from Jeopardy here.]

Okay, admit it. Now you’re hearing the Jeopardy music. (You can thank me later.)

Now that you’re back. What did you learn? Did you identify some things that bring you happiness and peace? Now for the rest of this little exercise. Divide a piece of paper (or Word document) into two columns. On the left side, write down all the answers to those two questions. On the right side, write down any actions, hobbies, destinations, activities that match up and can take you to a happier, less stressful place. It’s optimal if you can identify what can de-stress you daily and, like an exotic destination, what can provide a little break from the every day. Categorize your list as I have.

Some of my favorites are:

·         Daily- music (listening to it, singing it and taking the Karaoke stage once in a while)

·         Weekly- play (time with the grandkids)

·         Monthly (or less)- massage (every 6-8 weeks works for me); blogging (yes, this is my therapy!)

·         Yearly- family vacation (spending time at the ocean or in the mountains recharges me)

Next time you start to feel the stress, pick from your list and use what you’ve identified to take you to that happy place. The best part is, not only will you feel better, you’ll be a better parent, friend, colleague, mentor, etc. When you take care of you, you empower yourself to better take care of your world.

So, today, when my colleague brought in the cake, not only had she found her happy place, she shared happiness with others too. Trust me on this. As I saw the smiles all around, there was definitely happiness on the rise in this place! (Denise rocks!)

Today, I’ll leave you with this. Before you log off your computer, before you power down your smart phone, find a place with no distractions, look up your favorite upbeat song, and listen in. Sing along. Dance if you're so inclined. It's Guaranteed to make you smile.

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that "No Buts About it" expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what's holding you, your team or your organization back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better and more productive living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!

Learning Life Lessons in Unlikely Places

Last weekend I took my granddaughter to the Burlington City Park for an Easter Egg hunt. The best part was that the first hunt would be for children ages 2-5. Maddie is 3. Perfect! Without all the older kids on the field vying for eggs, she was sure to get a few to put into her basket. 

When we arrived, all the kids and parents were lined up in a HUGE circle with a TON of brilliantly colored eggs gracing the field. We all stood at the ready, waiting for the sign when we could converge upon the shiny orbs and make them ours. Maddie and I were just 3 deep in line from the closest eggs. 

I've never seen anything like it, y'all. When it was time to 'hunt,' the sea of humans overtook those eggs and in less than a minute, the game was over. 

And Maddie's basket was.....empty. 

Hers wasn't the only one and there were parents commiserating the disappointment. Not wanting Maddie to get caught up in it, I leaned down and said, "Hey, let's go for a ride on the train!" "Yay!" she said and, in her excitement and anticipation, she completely chose to focus on the fun ahead and not the disappointment of an empty Easter basket. 

Have you ever focused on what you didn't have or what went wrong? I know I have. It'll ruin a good day. 

Not only did we ride the train, but she enjoyed rides on a boat, truck and helicopter. (That was $5 worth of tickets well spent!) 

"Let's go to the playground, Mimi!" and off she ran with me quickly following. I realized that, while I used to walk fast to keep up, now I was having to run too. (Getting in shape isn't just an option anymore!) She buried her feet in sand. And, as it was a little cool, Mimi (yeah, that's me) wouldn't let her go barefooted, so we simply dumped the sand out of the shoes after. (Sorry, mom, if you're washing sandy socks today.)

Finally, I saw her eyeing the BIG SLIDE. She took a few steps toward it. And looked to me. "Oh, no, chickadee, that's for bigger kids." 

"Mom and Dad let me do it." 

Now, having been a kid myself, I know that sometimes, we use that line to get our way whether it's completely true or not. After a minute of conversation, and ending with, "Maybe mom will slide down with you later," the fun continued but on the smaller, safer slides. 

Soon mom stopped by and informed Mimi that, yes, Maddie could slide down the BIG SLIDE......all by herself! (Obviously, this kid is growing up faster than I can keep up with!)

I had limited her in my own mind, even questioned her integrity, and yet she was completely capable and eager to tackle something BIG. And she'd spoken the truth. Have you ever been limited by another person's beliefs in what you're capable of? Have you ever known in your heart you could accomplish something, but limited yourself because of what others thought? Has your integrity been questioned? 

I learn a lot from other people. Who knew I'd learn some life lessons from hanging out with a 3-year-old? Where do you find teachable moments?

   *Focus on the opportunity, not the disappointment. 

   *Believe in yourself, even when others don't. 

   *Have fun!

Join me in looking for opportunities to learn and grow. Even if the lessons are in unlikely places, like on a spring day hanging out with a 3-year-old. And, if that's the case, you're guaranteed to have fun!

Jean

Kudos to the young man at the park who tried to convince his son to share an Easter egg with the little girl who didn't have any. Even though it didn't work out, it was great to see a parent making an effort to teach his child about sharing. (Maddie's Mimi says, "You rock!")

Jean Bailey Robor is that "No Buts About It" expert who simply wants you to lead happier and more successful lives. Getting past what's holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living. Click here to book Jean for your next event!

UPDATE: The next day, Maddie had an egg hunt at my house. Guaranteed to find a basketful of eggs!