Whole Heart Devotion

Have you ever heard the expression, "I went there to be a blessing to them, but they blessed me more than I could have imagined!"?  That is typically the case whenever someone takes the time to visit or minister to someone who is a close follower of God.  That was the case for me yesterday. God has blessed me throughout my life with Godly women who have nurtured me and helped mold me in my relationship with Jesus.  The sweet lady I visited yesterday was one of the first glimpses of Kellum Baptist Church I got to see.  She was a member of the Pastor Search Committee that called my husband to be their pastor, nearly ten years ago.  I vividly remember sitting at a quaint restaurant in Hickory, North Carolina and hearing her speak of love for her family and her church.  She spoke as only a loving Nannie could about her then four grandchildren and the joy it brought her to be able to help care for them.  She spoke as o...

"Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deut. 6:7 My husband is a great storyteller.  I believe that it's one of the reasons why he's such a great preacher because whenever he utilizes a historical or comical illustration in his sermons, he tells them with such accuracy and ease.  His capacity to retell it would make you think that he was actually an eye-witness to whatever occurred in the story. I, on the other hand, am not a good storyteller.  I never have been and doubt it's going to improve much as time goes by.  I have a feeling that whenever I begin telling a story or a joke, my husband and close friends secretly wonder if they'll ever get to hear the punch line or the conclusion of the story!  It really is that bad. I can even try to retell a story that just tugged at my heartstrings, or a joke that had me rolling on the floor...