The Day I Lost My Son in An Elevator

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by Gayla Parker

The memory of losing our son in an elevator in Hong Kong still causes me to break out in a cold sweat. Our family was visiting Hong Kong for a brief vacation from the Philippines, where we were serving as missionaries. We had planned to stay at the guesthouse for missionaries located on an upper floor of a high-rise condo building. We were standing in the lobby, waiting on the elevator to see our home for the week for the first time. All of us were excited to be in this new exciting place. When the elevator doors opened our, then six-year-old, son, Jesse, ran inside the elevator ahead of the rest of the family. Just when he arrived inside, the doors closed leaving all us standing outside!

For you parents out there, you can imagine the sense of panic. We were in a country where Chinese was spoken instead of English or Cebuano. Communication was a challenge at best. Jesse did not know what floor our condo was on nor did he know how to ask for help. My husband and our two older sons immediately ran up the stairs hoping to catch the elevator on another floor. I waited not so patiently in the lobby just in case Jesse made it back down to the lobby. All of our hearts were pounding with fear. Our son was lost in an elevator; enter my worst vacation nightmare.

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Guarding Your Heart

Thursday, April 25, 2013 by Amanda Walker

Amanda, how do I guard my heart in a world that wants to rip me apart? This is the question that has been asked of me several times this month. A few weeks ago my husband and I began the Every Man’s/Woman’s Battle with our college group. This study has prompted many late-night conversations, and I have been able to see, first hand, the pain that these women are going through. At first I thought it was only a “single gal’s” struggle, but the more I have pondered this question, the more I realize that
it affects women in all stages of life. There is a battle going on in Christian women, and it is the battle for the heart’s affections. We are bombarded with television, social media, text messages, and not to mention the visual sights of just driving down the interstate. Even if we want to put filters around our
minds and hearts, the world does not make it easy for us. But, God has given us answers in His Word to help us as we seek to be women of integrity.

Proverbs 4 is a chapter dedicated to a father giving his son wise instructions. Towards the end of that chapter, Solomon writes, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov 4:23) The NIV says, “Above all else, guard your heart…” (emphasis added) Now that I am a mother, I can envision me telling my daughters this very command. “Makaylan and Hannah, above all else, whatever you do, please guard your heart!” I will admit that conceptually understanding this verse is much easier to accomplish than actually allowing this truth to be a reality in your life. In order to guard your heart, there are certain steps that we must take, and they are not always easy.

First, we must set up a defense system.

Whenever a soldier goes into battle, he first has a battle plan. It would be naïve and foolish to go against the enemy without first knowing how you will fight and what weapons you will use to fight him. For a Christian woman, our defense system is God’s word. Proverbs 4:20-21 tells us to “be attentive” to God’s commands and to “keep them within your heart.” In talking to these young women, I have noticed that most of them do not know what God’s word says about their dating relationship, their choices in movies, their choices in clothing, and etc. In a sense, they are going into the battle unprepared. The only thing
that can protect our heart from the lies of the enemy is first knowing what God’s word says.  I often find myself asking the questions found in Philippians 4:8. Paul says, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Is the relationship you are in a God-honoring relationship? If not, then get out of it. Is the movie, book, or website you are looking at pure? If not, then confess it as sin, stop looking at it, and ask someone to hold you accountable for your media choices. Are the clothes you’re wearing bringing honor and praise to God or to self? If you are dressing to gain attention for yourself and get that “next look” from a guy, then please let me encourage you to dress in a way that shows respect for yourself and your fellow brothers in Christ. Knowing God’s Word is the key to understanding our enemy, Satan, and knowing how to stand against him.

Secondly, we must stand our ground.

Once we have put up our defense system, then we must make sure to stand our ground against the attacks of the enemy. Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight
before you.” This picture is one of a person who is not easily moved. It is so easy for the world to grab our attention away from God and His plans for our life. It is much easier to guard our hearts when our hearts and minds are fixed on Christ, and we refuse to allow the world to intrude. One way that I have
found effective in standing my ground against the enemy is to enlist accountability partners and/or mentors to come alongside me. It is easier to stand when I know that someone is standing with me.

For example, as a young mother, I daily encounter situations that I do not understand or even know what to do. Right now, my daughter is at the beginning of the “Terrific Two” stage of being a toddler, and it is often difficult to see past the here-and-now. The enemy attacks my mind and causes me to question my parenting and disciplining skills, and I have to fight off the lie that I am a terrible mother. It is times like these where I am so grateful for older women who have gone through this season and encourage me to press through it. I am learning to guard my heart against this lie and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:2). God has a plan for me (shaping me to look like Christ), and He has a plan for my precious daughter. (She is going to be a leader one day…I just know it!!)

Finally, we must persevere to the end.

Guarding our hearts is a continuous battle. During a battle, the one who perseveres is the one who wins. In talking with my college girls, they often want to know when they will not struggle with this issue. My response: The day you go to be with the Lord. Guarding your heart is not a younger gal’s issue or a wiser gal’s issue, it is a human issue. But it is a battle that can be won. Proverbs 4:26-27 says, “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

The Christian walk is a walk that takes a lifetime. Right now, many of my college girls are struggling with guarding their hearts against the emotional pendulum that comes in dating relationships. But, soon their hearts will turn to other matters, and it will be just as important for them to guard their hearts during that season. Learning to not “swerve to the right or to the left” on issues, whether it is dating relationships, parenting, friendships, working environment, or entertainment choices, it is a lifelong and daily commitment that takes perseverance. We will persevere if we fill our minds with God’s word, enlist someone to stand with us through either an accountability relationship or a discipleship relationship, and then purposefully “turn [our] foot way from evil.” God is for us, and He will help us to persevere.

 

Guarding our hearts is something we do on purpose. We cannot fill our minds with worldly things and then be surprised when we fall into sin. Instead, we need to be so captivated with God that we do not desire anything or anyone else. My prayer for us is that we would be women of integrity who stand up to the enemy and take back our heart’s affections. God has some amazing plans for us if we keep our eyes completely fixed upon Him and refuse to allow the enemy to win the battle over our hearts (Jer 29:11-14).

 

Amanda Walker is in the Doctorate of Educational Ministries program at Southwestern. Her greatest joy is serving alongside her husband who is the University Minister at Cook Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana, and being the mother of two beautiful daughters. In her “free” time she enjoys a good chat over a cup of coffee. Connect with Amanda on Facebook!

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When You Just Want to Quit

Thursday, April 4, 2013 by Candi Finch

Have you ever faced a task that seemed impossible? Maybe you just don’t feel up to the journey? I am in the middle of writing my dissertation, and I have to admit there are days when I just want to throw my hands up and quit because the road ahead seems too daunting. Even though I know the Lord has called me to this work and even though most days I really love the research, there are those days where I just am weary and get easily discouraged.

I work with students who feel that way about completing their own degrees so I know I am not the only one who has those “I can’t take it anymore!” kind of days. For some of my married friends with kids, they have those days where the responsibility of raising kids seems overwhelming. Or, maybe you have been trying to witness to a loved one for many years, and you are just not seeing any results. I am not sure what you are facing, but I am willing to guess that you may have had those days where you just feel like the task is too hard or the road is too long or you are just too weary.

If you find yourself having that kind of day (or month or year), can I encourage you with some things the Lord has been showing me in His Word?

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Will You Have a Faith Like Mary’s?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 by Amanda Walker

Since becoming a mother, Christmas has taken on a new significance. Before giving birth to my precious girls, I did not think about what it must have been like for Mary to carry and then give birth to her Messiah.  What was going through the hearts and minds of this young couple as they realized their Savior was about to be born? Being 90 miles away from her mother, was Mary nervous or scared?[1] Who, besides Joseph, aided her in this most significant of nights?  Most importantly, what can we learn from this young mother and her response to this marvelous event?

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When Fear Falls

Thursday, December 6, 2012 by Terri Stovall

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

~Isaiah 41:10

Have you ever been going through life, walking daily with the Lord, essentially doing well, excited about all God is doing, when all off a sudden you are blindsided and fear seems to fall on you?  You are not alone.

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“I Want to Save My Daughter”

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 by Katie Fruge

What would you do if you had to choose between your life and your baby’s life?

I never really thought I would have to choose. Since college it was always just a hypothetical question to me. Up to that point in my life, I had even heard most pro-life supporters affirm that abortion is always wrong – with the exception of the mother’s life being in jeopardy. That exception had always troubled me. In college I decided that if I ever had to choose, I’d go with the baby and trust God. I never thought I’d actually have to make that choice.

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Discontent with Discontentment

Thursday, October 18, 2012 by Bethany Hartsfield

There I was in my closet – crying.  The all too familiar pitiful scene of a mascara-stained face looking heavenward, crying out to God, not understanding why His timing hadn’t caught up with mine. What was I even crying about?  My current marital status.  Yup, currently single.  It is not the end of the world to be single.  In fact, I could recount the numerous days I had offered thanks to the Lord that I was not married at that time.  Regardless, there I was on my closet floor desperate for God’s Presence to help me in this time of discontentment. Can I get an “amen” from you single ladies?

If you’re like me, you’re not just saying “Amen”, but crying out “Lord, When?”

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