I had a grand time last night singing and speaking at Prentiss Baptist Church in Prentiss. I had the chance to catch up with people I hadn't seen in a long time and meet many new faces. One of the things I shared with those in attendance was how God gives each of us a different mission every day for the Kingdom. And because we often have excuses as to why we can't follow through, we just need to shut up, get up, and go.
John 5 tells the story of the healing at the pool at Bethesda. The paralyzed, the blind, the lame--would all gather at the side of that pool and wait for the waters to move. From time to time, an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each disturbance would be cured of whatever he had. Obviously, this pool was a popular place. One man had been lame for 38 years. Jesus heard how long he had been crippled and asked him if he wanted to get well. In verse 7, the man said "'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I'm trying to get in, someone else goes down in front of me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured. He picked up his mat and walked."
This poor man was whining and complaining that he couldn't move fast enough; that someone always got there first. He had the "woe is me" syndrome. I think if I had been there that long, I could have shimmied my way down into the waters, don't you?! And what did Jesus tell him--get up and go!
God is telling you and me to do something specific. You know what it is, you just don't want to do it. Don't compromise what the Lord is telling you to do. Shut up, get up and go!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Double Vision
Do you have a twin? I'm beginning to think I have at least one, maybe several, as I've been approached by viewers making strange claims here lately.
I received an email from a viewer who chewed me out for being "rude and stuck up" when her son came and introduced himself. She said her son met me at the gym and I acted like I "was too famous to even acknowledge him". She said if that is how I treat my fans, no wonder people hate me. I'm sure she was even more surprised when I explained to her that I didn't know who her son was, and that I had not met any man at the gym in years simply because I go to a ladies-only gym and have been going there for 10 years now. No men allowed. She emailed me back and genuinely apologized. Seems her son told her the girl he was attempting to meet was Barbie Bassett when it wasn't really me, so mom had to set him straight (unless he's been cross-dressing and trying to get into my ladies-only gym!).
A viewer wrote how ugly I was to her when she met me at a local restaurant. She called me several names I won't repeat on this blog. My mind is still wondering over that one because I haven't been to that upscale restaurant in quite some time. I always try to treat people with respect and kindness, so being portrayed as something totally different was a disappointment. I honestly don't remember meeting anyone at that restaurant, much less being anything but cordial to them (even on a bad day). I went ahead and apologized anyway.
Earlier this month while emceeing an event, a gentleman came up to me and insisted he owed me an apology. "Do you remember when you were building your house on Jefferson Street and you were pregnant with your first child right after the tornado? I was renovating a house next door to yours and your babysitter broke her leg. I carried her to your house and told you to call 911 for help. You said your husband was coming to take you to the doctor to have your baby and you didn't have time to deal with it all. I yelled at you and told you 'this girl needs help now'! Do you remember that?" No, I told him. I explained I have never lived on Jefferson Street and have lived in the same house since I got married 14 years ago; the tornado that hit my neighborhood was in November 2001 and I didn't have my first child until July 2003. "How old was the girl who's leg was broken?" I asked him. "She was a teenager; maybe 17 or 18," he said. No, I explained I've had the same nanny since my first child was born and she's over 50. Kind as though he was, this man continued to try and persuade me that the person he yelled at that day was me. After another 5 minutes of me going into further detail of how the pregnant woman couldn't have been me due to the timing, that I've never lived on a Jefferson Street, and the tornado didn't occur at that location, he relented. "Well, the girl who was pregnant told me she was Barbie Bassett and the girl who broke her leg that I carried said she was going to be Barbie Bassett's babysitter. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for yelling at you." So I accepted his apology on behalf of "Barbie Bassett".
I spoke recently at a Christmas banquet in which a sweet lady sat beside me and said she had recently met my new, baby niece. I told her that I was the only one in my family to have had a baby in the last year and I wasn't sure what child she was referring to. She said the baby's name and I told her that I didn't have a niece by that name. "Do you have a brother?" she asked. Yes, I told her, and he has 2 adult girls and 1 son, but no baby. "Does he live here?" she asked. No, I explained he and his wife and family live in north Mississippi. She kept asking me questions about my brother and I answered every one. "Is his last name Bassett?" she asked. "No, Bassett is my married name," I said. Looking more and more frustrated, her face turned red. "Well, my niece recently had a baby and she told everyone at Thanksgiving that Barbie Bassett's brother is the daddy which means you are the aunt," the lady told me. I didn't want to embarrass her in front of the table, so I just quietly whispered that the her niece's boyfriend and baby's daddy was not my brother. "Well," she said, "just wait til I see her at Christmas! I'm going to shed some light on this and tell her I know the truth!" Oh my....
I must have a twin, or two, or worse yet, I must get around....
I received an email from a viewer who chewed me out for being "rude and stuck up" when her son came and introduced himself. She said her son met me at the gym and I acted like I "was too famous to even acknowledge him". She said if that is how I treat my fans, no wonder people hate me. I'm sure she was even more surprised when I explained to her that I didn't know who her son was, and that I had not met any man at the gym in years simply because I go to a ladies-only gym and have been going there for 10 years now. No men allowed. She emailed me back and genuinely apologized. Seems her son told her the girl he was attempting to meet was Barbie Bassett when it wasn't really me, so mom had to set him straight (unless he's been cross-dressing and trying to get into my ladies-only gym!).
A viewer wrote how ugly I was to her when she met me at a local restaurant. She called me several names I won't repeat on this blog. My mind is still wondering over that one because I haven't been to that upscale restaurant in quite some time. I always try to treat people with respect and kindness, so being portrayed as something totally different was a disappointment. I honestly don't remember meeting anyone at that restaurant, much less being anything but cordial to them (even on a bad day). I went ahead and apologized anyway.
Earlier this month while emceeing an event, a gentleman came up to me and insisted he owed me an apology. "Do you remember when you were building your house on Jefferson Street and you were pregnant with your first child right after the tornado? I was renovating a house next door to yours and your babysitter broke her leg. I carried her to your house and told you to call 911 for help. You said your husband was coming to take you to the doctor to have your baby and you didn't have time to deal with it all. I yelled at you and told you 'this girl needs help now'! Do you remember that?" No, I told him. I explained I have never lived on Jefferson Street and have lived in the same house since I got married 14 years ago; the tornado that hit my neighborhood was in November 2001 and I didn't have my first child until July 2003. "How old was the girl who's leg was broken?" I asked him. "She was a teenager; maybe 17 or 18," he said. No, I explained I've had the same nanny since my first child was born and she's over 50. Kind as though he was, this man continued to try and persuade me that the person he yelled at that day was me. After another 5 minutes of me going into further detail of how the pregnant woman couldn't have been me due to the timing, that I've never lived on a Jefferson Street, and the tornado didn't occur at that location, he relented. "Well, the girl who was pregnant told me she was Barbie Bassett and the girl who broke her leg that I carried said she was going to be Barbie Bassett's babysitter. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for yelling at you." So I accepted his apology on behalf of "Barbie Bassett".
I spoke recently at a Christmas banquet in which a sweet lady sat beside me and said she had recently met my new, baby niece. I told her that I was the only one in my family to have had a baby in the last year and I wasn't sure what child she was referring to. She said the baby's name and I told her that I didn't have a niece by that name. "Do you have a brother?" she asked. Yes, I told her, and he has 2 adult girls and 1 son, but no baby. "Does he live here?" she asked. No, I explained he and his wife and family live in north Mississippi. She kept asking me questions about my brother and I answered every one. "Is his last name Bassett?" she asked. "No, Bassett is my married name," I said. Looking more and more frustrated, her face turned red. "Well, my niece recently had a baby and she told everyone at Thanksgiving that Barbie Bassett's brother is the daddy which means you are the aunt," the lady told me. I didn't want to embarrass her in front of the table, so I just quietly whispered that the her niece's boyfriend and baby's daddy was not my brother. "Well," she said, "just wait til I see her at Christmas! I'm going to shed some light on this and tell her I know the truth!" Oh my....
I must have a twin, or two, or worse yet, I must get around....
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Turning Impatience Into Patience
We had just gotten in from the gym yesterday morning and it was time for me to start getting ready to start my work day. Lilly Faith was pacified playing with a chew toy on the floor and Will was busy playing with his train set. Gracie asked if she could watch "Curious George" on television. I clicked on the right channel and told everyone I was going to take a shower. While I was in the shower, Gracie came in to tell me that Lilly Faith had chewed on the tv remote and made it change channels. "I can't get Curious George back on tv." I yelled through the shower door which channel to punch into the remote. Gracie left, only to return. "But mom, I can't get Curious George back on!" After telling her once again which buttons to press, Gracie was getting frustrated with me because she wanted me to fix her problem right then. "Can't you just wait until I get out of the shower?" I asked. "I'll fix it then." She walked out of the bathroom and I had another minute of peace. I finished up, put my robe on, and heard a lady screaming bloody murder on the television. I walked into the living room and heard more screaming and looked at the television to see which channel Lilly Faith's chewing had made the tv had landed on---Discovery Health Channel. Gracie had landed on a show which was showing the joys of birthing a baby. "Sorry I got impatient, mom," Gracie said from the couch. "Since I couldn't find Curious George, I found something else to watch!"
Oh boy.
Sometimes, we want what we want, when we want it, exactly how we want it and we end up getting ourselves in trouble and can't have the patience to wait until God works it out for us.
When I think about patience, I think about Noah. At the end of Genesis 5 when Noah had his sons, he is 500 years old. It was at that point that God told him to build the ark. When the flood waters came, Noah was 600 years old. Do the math: it took roughly 100 years for Noah to build the ark, just as God told him to do. Do you think you would've run out of patience?
But look again. In Genesis 6 & 7, the Bible says something specific about Noah's diligence. Four times in those two chapters, it states, "Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him." That means even though Noah probably got tired of building the ark, putting up with the jeers from the townspeople, and waiting on God to make it rain, he stayed the course. He kept his faith, he trusted God had him doing this for a purpose. Instead of Noah throwing up his hands and saying, "You're crazy, God! I'm tired of waiting on you, so I'm just going to stop wasting my time and busting my knuckles on this #$?@ boat!", Noah trusted God's timing and didn't question it.
So the next time you think about taking things into your own hands because it isn't working out the way you wanted and you think God is dragging His heels, just remember..."impatient" can easily be turned into "I'm patient".
Oh boy.
Sometimes, we want what we want, when we want it, exactly how we want it and we end up getting ourselves in trouble and can't have the patience to wait until God works it out for us.
When I think about patience, I think about Noah. At the end of Genesis 5 when Noah had his sons, he is 500 years old. It was at that point that God told him to build the ark. When the flood waters came, Noah was 600 years old. Do the math: it took roughly 100 years for Noah to build the ark, just as God told him to do. Do you think you would've run out of patience?
But look again. In Genesis 6 & 7, the Bible says something specific about Noah's diligence. Four times in those two chapters, it states, "Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him." That means even though Noah probably got tired of building the ark, putting up with the jeers from the townspeople, and waiting on God to make it rain, he stayed the course. He kept his faith, he trusted God had him doing this for a purpose. Instead of Noah throwing up his hands and saying, "You're crazy, God! I'm tired of waiting on you, so I'm just going to stop wasting my time and busting my knuckles on this #$?@ boat!", Noah trusted God's timing and didn't question it.
So the next time you think about taking things into your own hands because it isn't working out the way you wanted and you think God is dragging His heels, just remember..."impatient" can easily be turned into "I'm patient".
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Boldness of Prayer
I came across the prayer of Jabez yesterday while reading the Bible and saw where I had underlined it during a low point of my life. I wanted to learn more about this man, so I did some research. For someone who prayed such a passionate prayer, there had to be something special about him.
He is mentioned 3 times in the Bible. The first is in 1 Chronicles 2:55 where Jabez is the name of a town: "And the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez..." This town was apparently located near Bethlehem. Then Jabez is mentioned again in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10: "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." The name "Jabez" means "he causes pain," so there must have been something painful about his birth, perhaps physically or emotionally. But Jabez apparently defied his hopeless name and dreary beginning to become a man who believed fervently in the power of God. He prayed with urgency, transparency and passion. His prayer to God was bold! His relationship with God must have been important to cause the author of Chronicles to stop and elaborate on this one man's life because Chronicles is full of boring genealogy. God had a purpose for Jabez and Jabez wanted God's blessing to be fulfilled.
The prayer has four parts. First, Jabez asks God to bless him. Second, he asks God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. Third, he asks that God will be with him and stay close. Finally, Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain.
Jabez understood what many people don't get--God should be the center of our world and God wants to bless every life. We must first choose to invite God into our life and ask for His blessings on our life. Jabez wanted to succeed and wanted to increase the influence he had on others for God. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." It is important to stay close to God and rely on His continued support and guidance throughout our life.
So what happened to Jabez? At the end of the verse, it is clear that God answered Jabez's prayer.
Life is a process and growing into a mature Christian takes time. In reading the Bible, it is obvious that God is faithful in caring for those who seek Him. Jabez was just a normal guy who wanted God's hand on his life. I don't believe he was trying to manipulate God with this prayer but he was earnestly seeking the blessings God had for him. This prayer only helped to pull those blessings from the unseeing realm to the seeing realm, so Jabez could experience them.
He is mentioned 3 times in the Bible. The first is in 1 Chronicles 2:55 where Jabez is the name of a town: "And the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez..." This town was apparently located near Bethlehem. Then Jabez is mentioned again in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10: "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." The name "Jabez" means "he causes pain," so there must have been something painful about his birth, perhaps physically or emotionally. But Jabez apparently defied his hopeless name and dreary beginning to become a man who believed fervently in the power of God. He prayed with urgency, transparency and passion. His prayer to God was bold! His relationship with God must have been important to cause the author of Chronicles to stop and elaborate on this one man's life because Chronicles is full of boring genealogy. God had a purpose for Jabez and Jabez wanted God's blessing to be fulfilled.
The prayer has four parts. First, Jabez asks God to bless him. Second, he asks God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. Third, he asks that God will be with him and stay close. Finally, Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain.
Jabez understood what many people don't get--God should be the center of our world and God wants to bless every life. We must first choose to invite God into our life and ask for His blessings on our life. Jabez wanted to succeed and wanted to increase the influence he had on others for God. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." It is important to stay close to God and rely on His continued support and guidance throughout our life.
So what happened to Jabez? At the end of the verse, it is clear that God answered Jabez's prayer.
Life is a process and growing into a mature Christian takes time. In reading the Bible, it is obvious that God is faithful in caring for those who seek Him. Jabez was just a normal guy who wanted God's hand on his life. I don't believe he was trying to manipulate God with this prayer but he was earnestly seeking the blessings God had for him. This prayer only helped to pull those blessings from the unseeing realm to the seeing realm, so Jabez could experience them.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Viewer Comments & Emails
Now that I've lost just over 36 pounds (and still going), the "are you pregnant again?!" emails and comments have ceased. And just when you thought viewers were tuning in again to listen to the forecasts, in walks another edition of......"Viewer Comments and Emails".....
While I was speaking to a group of people a couple of weeks ago, one lady came up to me and made a comment about my hair. "I've been telling my friends, 'I wish Barbie Bassett would get rid of that poofy hair on tv', but now that I see you in person, it's not big at all!" Another viewer wrote that I looked like Peppermint Patty and that I needed some help in the hair department. For the record, I have been pushing my hair down lately so it doesn't look so big on tv. Remember, tv makes everything look big. Yes, even hair. (I can't believe I'm actually pushing my hair down now for viewers!)
I had just gotten a compliment from a viewer last night on an ivory duster/jacket I wore. That compliment didn't last long because another email followed right behind.
"The outfits that you wore last week really highlighted the effort that you are making on losing weight. The outfit you had on tonight does just the opposite! Please put it and all the rest made in the same style away! Really like your reports; just can't handle these types of outfits. Thanks." Signed Anonymous
I was gone for most of last week so I had a hard timing thinking about the outfits I wore on tv. I can barely remember what I wore to church Sunday, much less last week, and I wonder how some people can remember what I wore that far back! I took an armload of clothes home to my mother at Thanksgiving for her to take in and move buttons over; to try to tailor fit a little better. I wish I had an unlimited supply of money to spend on clothes and accessories to make all viewers happy, but that is not reality in the Jackson television market. Money is tight for everyone and I'm no different. When I have more money, I'll be glad to buy more clothes.
I think I'll do as Colossians 3:12 suggests, "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Goodness knows, I need it!
While I was speaking to a group of people a couple of weeks ago, one lady came up to me and made a comment about my hair. "I've been telling my friends, 'I wish Barbie Bassett would get rid of that poofy hair on tv', but now that I see you in person, it's not big at all!" Another viewer wrote that I looked like Peppermint Patty and that I needed some help in the hair department. For the record, I have been pushing my hair down lately so it doesn't look so big on tv. Remember, tv makes everything look big. Yes, even hair. (I can't believe I'm actually pushing my hair down now for viewers!)
I had just gotten a compliment from a viewer last night on an ivory duster/jacket I wore. That compliment didn't last long because another email followed right behind.
"The outfits that you wore last week really highlighted the effort that you are making on losing weight. The outfit you had on tonight does just the opposite! Please put it and all the rest made in the same style away! Really like your reports; just can't handle these types of outfits. Thanks." Signed Anonymous
I was gone for most of last week so I had a hard timing thinking about the outfits I wore on tv. I can barely remember what I wore to church Sunday, much less last week, and I wonder how some people can remember what I wore that far back! I took an armload of clothes home to my mother at Thanksgiving for her to take in and move buttons over; to try to tailor fit a little better. I wish I had an unlimited supply of money to spend on clothes and accessories to make all viewers happy, but that is not reality in the Jackson television market. Money is tight for everyone and I'm no different. When I have more money, I'll be glad to buy more clothes.
I think I'll do as Colossians 3:12 suggests, "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Goodness knows, I need it!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Being A Slave To Depression
I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" Saturday night on WLBT. It is a Christmas classic and each time I watch it, I see or hear something different.
You know the story line, George Bailey is living the high life with a beautiful family and successful banking career. Then he gets blamed when $8,000 is found missing at his bank. He knows he is about to be run out of town by the sheriff and auditors. He goes to the local watering hole, gets in a fight, has a wreck, and thinks all is lost. He goes to a bridge with the intention of committing suicide. That's when Clarence the angel shows up to teach George how life would be dramatically different if he weren't alive--all while trying to earn his own angel wings.
After the births of my children, I went through horrible cases of the baby blues or post partum depression...whatever you want to call it. I tried my best to hide it from everyone around me because I'm normally a happy person. I didn't like being in public, I shuttered at the thought of going back to work and being picked apart again, I hated who I was. On many occasions, I would often wonder 'What would happen if I just started walking and didn't come back?' I didn't want anyone to find me and I didn't need sympathy. I just wanted to disappear and it seemed like a better option than living.
1 Corinthians 7:23 says "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men." When we get down and out because of the circumstances surrounding us, we have become a slave to those thoughts, those words, those people, those choices. When we let those things control our emotions and how we feel, we have become their slave.
I am not belittling depression. I believe it is real and affects people in different ways. Getting into the Word will get anybody out of that "funk". When the Bible says that Jesus is the Great Physician, it doesn't mean He can just heal the body---Jesus can heal the whole being. If He couldn't do such and only specialized in one part of the body, then He wouldn't be referred to as 'Great', now would He?
However, I believe if God tells us not to become slaves of men, then He is the one who can set us free from depression, oppression and recession!
You know the story line, George Bailey is living the high life with a beautiful family and successful banking career. Then he gets blamed when $8,000 is found missing at his bank. He knows he is about to be run out of town by the sheriff and auditors. He goes to the local watering hole, gets in a fight, has a wreck, and thinks all is lost. He goes to a bridge with the intention of committing suicide. That's when Clarence the angel shows up to teach George how life would be dramatically different if he weren't alive--all while trying to earn his own angel wings.
After the births of my children, I went through horrible cases of the baby blues or post partum depression...whatever you want to call it. I tried my best to hide it from everyone around me because I'm normally a happy person. I didn't like being in public, I shuttered at the thought of going back to work and being picked apart again, I hated who I was. On many occasions, I would often wonder 'What would happen if I just started walking and didn't come back?' I didn't want anyone to find me and I didn't need sympathy. I just wanted to disappear and it seemed like a better option than living.
1 Corinthians 7:23 says "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men." When we get down and out because of the circumstances surrounding us, we have become a slave to those thoughts, those words, those people, those choices. When we let those things control our emotions and how we feel, we have become their slave.
I am not belittling depression. I believe it is real and affects people in different ways. Getting into the Word will get anybody out of that "funk". When the Bible says that Jesus is the Great Physician, it doesn't mean He can just heal the body---Jesus can heal the whole being. If He couldn't do such and only specialized in one part of the body, then He wouldn't be referred to as 'Great', now would He?
However, I believe if God tells us not to become slaves of men, then He is the one who can set us free from depression, oppression and recession!
Friday, December 12, 2008
After The Storms & Snow...
I'm back in town and couldn't help myself--I had to find out how much snow you had and what you did to enjoy the day!
In looking at the weather records, never before have we recorded snowfall on December 11. When I told you earlier in the week how rare a December snow is, I wasn't kidding! But for most areas, if you look outside today there isn't a hint of snow left from yesterday (the only exception would be for those of you in the south and southeast).
I stayed behind Tuesday and went in to help Eric Law with our severe weather coverage Tuesday night. When we finally left, we got in the middle of that EF2 tornado that hit just south of Florence, near Star. We pulled to safety and waited for a bit. When we finally got back on the road, we ended up making a few medical calls. One to a guy who had just drove over a large tree that fell on Highway 49 and another to a family that had several trees fall on their house. It was a weird feeling being "in" the storm and being nervous for those who were possibly hurt and not being in a dry television studio trying to keep others safe.
We are in for a better weekend. So post here and tell us how much snow you received!
In looking at the weather records, never before have we recorded snowfall on December 11. When I told you earlier in the week how rare a December snow is, I wasn't kidding! But for most areas, if you look outside today there isn't a hint of snow left from yesterday (the only exception would be for those of you in the south and southeast).
I stayed behind Tuesday and went in to help Eric Law with our severe weather coverage Tuesday night. When we finally left, we got in the middle of that EF2 tornado that hit just south of Florence, near Star. We pulled to safety and waited for a bit. When we finally got back on the road, we ended up making a few medical calls. One to a guy who had just drove over a large tree that fell on Highway 49 and another to a family that had several trees fall on their house. It was a weird feeling being "in" the storm and being nervous for those who were possibly hurt and not being in a dry television studio trying to keep others safe.
We are in for a better weekend. So post here and tell us how much snow you received!
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