If you’ve ever heard me teach the Bible, you know that I don’t use a Bible when I do!
Odd, I know.
The reason is that I can’t see the Bible. (If you’re a new reader, this might be a good time to tell you I’m blind.) Instead, I try to memorize the passages I am teaching.
For that reason, I am often asked how I memorize Scripture. So, I thought I would share with you one way I do it.
A few years ago, I sat—did I say “sat?”—I meant, I was stuck in front of a little girl and her daddy on an airplane. We’d been glued to the tarmac for 45 minutes when we were told for the fourth time that we were delayed again. Ugh.
I blew out a frustrated breath and fumed about everything that was wrong with this airline. I just knew that the past 45 minutes would turn into another 45 minutes and then into four hours and five hours and then … deep breath … I’d miss my connection, be stuck in Chicago and, well, that’s enough. You get the idea. I was not a happy woman.
When I was a college student in Florida, Rose was a widow who lived nearby. Many of us students regularly visited her.
One evening, my friend, Mike, popped in at dinner time and Rose invited him in. They visited for a few moments … that is, until Mike noticed her kitchen table was set for two.
“Oh Rose,” he said, “I didn’t realize you were having a guest for dinner. I will scoot out.”
She stopped him, and explained that ever since her husband died over 30 years earlier she always set two places at her table.
Mike assumed the second place setting was to remind her of her late husband, but Rose corrected him.
Wouldn’t you just love to sit across from Candace Cameron Bure and sip coffee and have an honest talk about life? Well, sister, this is your moment! Pour your coffee because Candace is on the blog!
I am tickled that she is joining us today to talk about conflict. Yep, that. You may think that being a celebrity, she doesn’t run into much conflict, but not so. She is a woman just like you and me, and she has found some practical and biblical ways to deal with conflict, and they’re brilliant! You will really appreciate her perspective.
So … take it away, Candace!
Having been in the entertainment industry a long time, I’ve developed five secret tools that I use regularly to stay cool. You don’t have to be an actress or have a job with intense public pressure to need these tools in your toolbox.
We all face criticism and conflict, and we all need to know how to handle it with grace. Here are five methods I’ve learned along the way.
What would happen if you just got still? Would the world as you know it fall apart? Would you?
Sometimes we stay busy to outrun our fear of failure or keep us distracted from thinking. Sometimes, when we are overwhelmed by sorrow or stress, we just long to fix something, clean something … you know, do something!
Research shows that women cry anywhere between 30 and 64 times a year. That means most of us girls shed tears at least twice a month and some of us cry about every five days!
Happy tears. Sad tears. Angry tears. We cry for all sorts of reasons.
Some of us are “Tricklers.” You know, we have an occasional tear drip from the eye, but it’s usually quick, controlled, and rare.
And, then there are the “Niagaras” among us! Do I even need to explain? A gushing flood of liquid emotion pours from both eyes at a moment’s notice! Then the waterfall lasts much longer than that one moment!
Any worn-out, weary women out there?
Oh, girl, we all feel it from time to time. I’ve been in the fast lane for the last several months and I’m feeling it! Between all the emotion of losing my dad paired with all the ministry travel, I feel like I’m running on fumes.
Life can just deplete us, can’t it? And I know you know exactly what I’m talking about.
When we feel weak, we need strength. It’s just that simple—and that difficult. That’s when we most need to pray.
I travel and speak to women, as well as work with them during the week. So, I’m surrounded by women all the time. Younger ones, older ones, happy ones … uh, not so happy ones! (That last one would be me every now and then! Ha!)
And, what I have noticed is that I am not only surrounded by women, but I am surrounded by excellence!
Oh, girl, none of us are perfect. We all have our bad days. But in all of these women, I have seen some great qualities that make up an excellent woman.
Do me a favor and close your eyes. Now, imagine you have to walk from where you are to your refrigerator without the help of your sight.
How would you feel? If you’re brave, try it. I’ll wait.
It probably wasn’t easy, was it? And, it may have even been dangerous or comical.
The truth is, when you can’t see, life is a whole lot easier if you have a guide—someone to lead you, show you the way, and teach you where to step so you end up in the right place.
Being blind, I need a guide to get me to the right place. But even if you see 20/20 (or good enough), you need a guide, too.
Have you ever been to Seattle? Girl, it’s stunning!! We had perfect weather, ate fish and chips on the pier, visited Starbucks’ headquarters, went to Pike Place Market, rode the ferry, and … went to the dentist.
Dentist? Yes.
Phil and I sat outside Pike Place Market, sipping Starbucks and nibbling on a cinnamon roll. Until one fatal bite changed everything.
