I remember a commercial that makes me smile.  During a video phone call home, a grown military son was asked by his mother if he were eating correctly.  She said that he looked a little thin.  He smiled and lovingly said that he was eating and that her question was a “mother” question.

He’s darned tooting!  A mother question indeed.  My 24 year old son (Jerry) lives in Charlotte, NC.  He has lived on his own for 4 years now.  I still ask the mother question.  In fact, his birthday was just the other day, and as I spoke to him on the phone to wish him a happy birthday, as always, I asked “what did you eat today?”

Tiffanie, now 23, graduated from college in May.  While she was living on campus in another city, we talked practically every day on the phone, and yep……every single time, I asked her the same……..”what did you eat today?”

My daughter Anaiah, the youngest, is 12 years old.  Every single day I ask her what she ate for breakfast and lunch at school.

As a mother, it is my nurturing nature that keeps me concerned about my children’s nutrition.  It is something that began from their birth.  It is vital for a baby to receive good, nutritious food in order for them to thrive and grow.  Mothers know exactly what goes into their children’s bodies when they’re babies and as they grow.  It’s our business, and our responsibility.  Nobody in their right mind would purposely starve a child.  So, even as my children have grown, I am still concerned about their nutrition.

When they were babies, I sterilized their bottles, mixed and measured their formula and fed them what they required and needed.  I breastfed one of my children, and the difference was that there is no measuring of the milk.  You really can’t tell how much the child is taking in.  However, the key for knowing that they’re receiving the proper amount is by their development.  They will gain weight and thrive well.  Also, on a daily note, you know by their out-take.   If nothing goes in, nothing will come out (count the diapers!).

Bottom line is that there will be evidence of the child’s nourishment one way or another whether they’re breastfed or bottle fed.  There will be growth.  The child will thrive.

The importance of proper nutrition doesn’t change just because we grow older.  We should eat well, and eat correctly.  When we don’t, then our bodies suffer for it.

Our spiritual diet and intake is just as important, if not more so, than the physical.  What we feast on in the spiritual realm is what develops our growth and development in the Lord.

God cares about our diet.  I can imagine if we sat down and talked to God, on our spiritual phone, He would ask us what we ate today.  He is concerned about our spiritual nutrition.  In fact, He provides for us.

Psalm 23:5 –  “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

In reading “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller, he breaks down the entire 23^rd Psalm from the perspective and experience of a real life Shepherd.  Regarding verse 5, Keller points out what “preparing a table” for a Shepherd means.  As we know, David, who wrote this particular Psalm, was a Shepherd.  David first recognizes the Lord as our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1).  Keller says that much work goes into preparing a table for the sheep.  It means, preparing an area of the pasture for the sheep that would allow them to eat properly.  Months before the sheep enter the pasture, the Shepherd goes and remove the plants that are harmful for the sheep.  Keller points out that this means that the poisonous plants are plucked up so that the sheep would not graze on them.  The Shepherd does this for the survival of the sheep.  He removes all things that are not good for them, so that they may be able to eat in order to grow and thrive.

The Shepherd also “keeps an eye out for predators.”  He watches for wolves, coyotes, cougars, and bears, for example.  These predators often watch every movement of the sheep, hoping for a chance to make a sneak attack on them.  While they’re grazing and eating, they are vulnerable to the attack of the enemy and are easy prey.

But, the attentive Shepherd watches out for them.

The Christian is likened to sheep, and the Lord is the Good Shepherd.  Keller says, “The parallel in the Christian life is clear.  Like sheep, we somehow feel that we have to try everything that comes our way.  We have to taste this thing and that, sampling everything just to see what it’s like.  And we may very well know that some things are deadly.  They can do us no good.  They can be most destructive.  Still somehow we give them a whirl anyway.”

He emphasized that we should remember that our Master……..our loving Shepherd has been there ahead of us……taking care of our situations before we even arrive to them.  He has already removed the poisonous plants that we may ingest.  He has already defeated our enemy who wishes to harm us.

Remember, Jesus warned Peter that satan desired to tempt him and sift him like wheat.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”   ~Luke 22:31-32

Jesus prepared the way, by having already prayed for him.  Jesus also told Peter to strengthen others once he repents.  See, Jesus knew what was ahead.  Peter would deny Him three times.  This would be a mistake that would undoubtedly turn Peter around.

The Lord cares about us and what we feast upon.  After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared several times to His disciples before His ascension back to heaven.  On the third encounter, Jesus first cared about their physical need for food.  It was early in the morning, and they’d been fishing all night, yet did not catch anything to eat.  When Jesus appeared to them, He told them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat.  They obeyed, and yet another miracle occurred.  They pulled in about 153 fish and they had a hard time pulling up the net because it was so heavy.  Not only that, as they walked inland, the Lord had already prepared a coal fire with fish awaiting them to be cooked and eaten.  They ate that morning, and they ate well.  After they feasted on such a wonderful meal, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Peter got a little aggravated with the questioning, but said, that yes, he loved him.  Jesus thus said that if you love me, feed my sheep.

For those whom God has called with the gifts of teaching, preaching, and leading, it is imperative to remember that you have an awesome responsibility.  You have been given the stewardship of feeding the Lord’s sheep.  His precious sheep.  Feeding them with the Word.  Feeding them with the truth.  Feeding them with good nutritional food that will cause them to grow and develop fully as God would have them to.

Junk food isn’t good for anyone.  It may taste good, but it isn’t good for us.  Don’t throw junk at God’s people.  Don’t feed them trash and cause them malnutrition.    Feed them the wholesome Word of God.  Teach people how to live holy lives in an unholy world.  Don’t fleece the people.  Don’t shake them up nor mislead them.  Build people up, don’t tear them down.  Love God enough to love His people.  In doing so, you would do just as He instructed Peter to do – Feed His Sheep!

Suggested reading:

“A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” By Phillip Keller

Click here

I am now in California with my family (father’s side) for my aunt’s funeral.  I arrived yesterday.  My flight was early (7 am) and long (5 hours with a two and a half hour layover).  I left my home around 5 am, and I was up and awake the entire night before (Sunday night).  Additionally, my husband’s uncle’s funeral was that day (Sunday), so I was busy the entire day.

Being in California, of course there is a two-hour time difference (which, by the way, it has always amazed me how we lose two hours when coming to the West Coast – I wonder what happens to those hours!).  So my body was functioning on the Central time zone, combined with everything that had happened prior to coming California, mixed with my having no sleep & definitely no rest in more than 24 hours.  Needless to say, I was exhausted. Once arriving, I went out to dinner with my cousin and her daughter, then we went to the mall, then to my cousin’s house.  I’m sleeping at my brother’s house, and my cousin brought me back there, seeing how tired I was (I didn’t realize that it was showing, but she told me today when we talked that it was).  Well, when I finally went to sleep (which ironically enough, I didn’t fall right to bed when I got to Ira’s house – guess I was too tired to wind down immediately), I was knocked out!  I mean, I slept so hard and I feel as though I was dead to the world.

I was completely oblivious to everything.  I didn’t even hear my brother leave for work this morning.  I saw nothing, heard nothing, knew nothing.  I was OUT!  When I did wake up, I felt as though I was out for DAYS!  It was truly a good night’s sleep.  I just kept thinking how “dead” I was to the world.

Then I got to thinking about life.  About us.  You.  Me.  Everyone.  How often are we dead to the world, yet wide awake?  See, while I was dead sleep, I was no good for anyone.  I was out.  Unconscious.  Unaware.  Oblivious.  I was alive because I was breathing, but I was not present.  My body was here, alive and warm, but lifeless.  I was not cognizant of anything.

Again, this is how too many of us live on a daily basis.  We exist, we walk around, we “unlive” our lives.  Yes, unlive.  We don’t really live, we just float through here, going through the motions, truly being dead to the world.

I later watched a video of one of my favorite motivational speakers, Les Brown.  He stated that we allow our talents and gifts die with us because we don’t use them as God has purposed us to.  That’s exactly what I was thinking when the “dead to the world” philosophy was ringing through my mind.  

Evaluate yourself and think about it.  Are you dead to the world?  If you are, it’s time for some revival.  You can choose today to come back to life and serve your life’s purpose.  Come one!  The world is waiting for you to make the contribution that God has invested in you.

Blessings!

Carla Y. Nix

Our way of life should be driven by love.  Everything we do should be a result of our love for one another.  If we spent more time acting out of love instead of being guided by hatred and anger, our world would be a much better place. 

Let your day, and your life, be rooted and grounded in the power of love.  Speak in love, act in love, walk in love, give in love, share in love, pray in love, live in love, be love! 

WORD POWER:

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

“ ³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. ⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

 ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

 ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:
   ”If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
      if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:3-21 (NIV)

AFFIRMATION:

Today, I will exemplify true love in all my actions. 

Blessings!

Carla Y. Nix

Jerry and Carla on the Riverboat Cruise - Memphis

On our final night in Memphis last week, we enjoyed a wonderful evening on the Island Queen Riverboat.   It was like a date night for all of us.  We traveled with a group of 26 ministers and their wives from the central Mississippi area.  It was a wonderful week, and that last night was really sweet.  It was nice to be with this group in settings outside of the church and the pulpit.  Granted, my husband is a minister, all of the men were, and I have developed great relationships with all of the wives.  As a couple, we have great rapport and a kinship with all of the couples.  This night was a time to relax and enjoy our spouses, and the company of the other couples.

We dined and danced!  It was fantastic!  I can’t tell you the last time my husband and I have been out on a date, nor when we last danced together.  This was a much needed date and activity.  We both love good music and boy were we treated by a wonderful 4-piece live band – The Memphis Knights.  Jerome Miller is the band leader and these 4 men were superb!  (By the way, if you’re in the Memphis area and need a multi-talented and diverse band, contact Jerome for bookings at 901-871-4512).

I video taped some of the performances and wish I can share it (I don’t know how to do so – used the wrong type of DVD).  They were good, playing all types of music.  They even took requests.  Unfortunately they didn’t get to honor ours – we requested “our” song, “Always and Forever”.  However, they also invited people from the audience to even join the band and sing if they wanted to.  Our leader (the President of our group) took the opportunity and sang “You Are So Beautiful” to his wife.  It was so romantic and everyone cheered them on.

The Copiah County Ministerial Alliance on Riverboat Cruise

It was not until the band played “The Electric Slide” that Jerry and I hopped to the floor and danced!  Wow, that was a lot of fun.  Y’all know the Electric Slide!  At first I thought this was the Black National Dance – (smile) – but the dance floor was soon full of mostly White patrons getting down with it!  Because I hadn’t danced it in awhile, I was stumbling in the beginning.  Well, I was next to a young White lady, and we just bonded!  It was funny, but fun!  I told her that I would follow her and after one rotation of it, I had the dance pat down.  It was like riding a bike – you don’t forget!  It was so much fun! 

Then the band told us to freeze, and they began another song.  Something I was not familiar with at all, but we were having so much fun and decided to stay on the dance floor.  Jerome talked the steps – something like – to the right, to the right, to the right, to the right – to the left, to the left, to the left, to the left – kick it, kick it, kick it, kick it – walk it out, walk it out, walk it out, walk it out……..SOMETHING LIKE THAT!  (smile)  It was fun, but boy did my knees begin to hurt!  I definitely am not as young as I used to be! 

Well, when we got home, we told our daughters about it and they told us that we were doing the “Cupid Shuffle”.  Oh well!  Never saw it, never did it before, but it was fun!   Mighty good exercise.

The band closed the night out with something that they figured that EVERYONE knew.  Once they played it, more from our group joined us on the dance floor.  The band started singing, “Come on baby, let’s do the twist!”  It was Chubby Checker’s fun song that brought some of those who were older than us on the floor.  Boy was it fun.  We twisted like crazy feeling no pain.  Uh, not until the morning, that is!  Wow, did we feel it the next day! 

It was so needed.  A break from the seriousness of life and all of the issues and problems that we’re facing.  It was a great source of exercise, laughter, and great music!  What a wonderful night on the River.

Carla on deck of Island Queen Riverboat - Memphis

At one point, I did go out on deck and watched the mighty Mississippi River, and had a moment of sentiment.  In New Orleans, we lived only a few blocks from that same River.  We saw the River everyday.  We crossed the River quite often.  We’ve shopped on the River (New Orleans Riverfront).  We watched cruise ships pass by our home on their way in or out.  I had to take in and smile as I acknowledged how the River connects us.  The Mighty Mississippi.  Before I could get too sentimental, I went back in and enjoyed more of the music and dancing.

I think we all need to get a little Electric Slide on every now and then.  Maybe it’s not dancing for you, but perhaps you need to just take some time and do something that you enjoy.  Break away from the responsibilities that keep you busy and just do something for the sheer fun of it.  Laugh.  Enjoy yourself.  Relax.  You deserve it!

Blessings!

Carla Y. Nix

I received some sad news the other day that brought me back to my senior year in 1979.  I was told that one of my classmates, Jeffrey Cook, recently died.  Oh, the news shook me and shattered my heart.  I immediately recounted my memories of Jeffrey.  I remember very fondly that Jeffrey was possibly the nicest person I knew throughout my high school years, and possibly my entire life.  I am so serious, he was so nice.  He was genuine, decent, kind, considerate, smart, and extremely talented.  Jeffrey was an artist and a dancer.  He designed our senior year t-shirts.  I said to our classmate Charlotte (who told me the sad news) that I don’t even remember what subject it was, but for one class period during senior year, Jeffrey was in one of my classes.  We shared a table with 2 or 3 other students.  The other tables were generally of the “cool” kids.  The popular ones.  I always felt like an outcast, and I was honored that Jeffrey sat at a table where I was.  

There were also a few more students who didn’t easily fit in with the mainstream.  They would be considered as “nerds” (just as me), but they were really good people.  Jeffery was very kind and caring with all of us.  We had conversations that were deep and we all felt very comfortable and as though we actually mattered.

I was the writer.  Jeffrey the artist.  The others were bookworms (me too somewhat).  Because of Jeffrey, we felt at ease and not as though we were being judged and scrutinized.

I knew that in our presence was greatness in the embodiment of Jeffrey Cook.  I knew that he was gifted and talented.  I knew that he was a great person.  And those are the memories that I carry with me.  After graduation, I never saw Jeffrey again.  I never knew just how far Jeffrey’s talent brought him until I heard his name again and saw some of his artwork at a museum right in the heart of New Orleans.  The owner/curator (and dancer and artist), lovingly known as Mama G, told me that I was looking at the work of Jeffrey Cook.  I smiled and told her that I went to school with him.  I was so happy to see his work and was extremely proud of him. 

Little did I know of all of the work that Jeffrey has done.  Not until now as I read this article from the Times Picayune newspaper out of New Orleans.   It announces Jeffrey’s passing, but it also gives much more information about him and his work.  I encourage you to read it.

Jeffrey was a great soul.  I am happy for all that he’s accomplished in life.  But the selfishness in me is even more thankful for the beautiful spirit that blessed me during that most difficult senior year in high school.  I will NEVER forget that; nor will I ever forget him.

My prayers remain for the Cook family during this most difficult time.

Blessings!

Carla YOUNG Nix

McDonogh #35 Senior High School – Class of 1979 – New Orleans, LA

Go Roneagles!

It first happened when my Tiff was a baby. She suffered with several ear infections during her first year of life. These infections were painful for her, but they also caused her to have very high fevers. The very first episode was the scariest. She’d suddenly developed a 105 degree temperature, began hallucinating, and was on the verge of a convulsion. I called her pediatrician as I was running out of the door (no cell phones then, this was 1988) to the Emergency Room. He called the ER ahead telling them all that I explained so that they would be on alert. We were met at the door as we ran in and they took my Tiffanie from me to immediately begin the procedure of a spinal tap. We did not know at the time that it was an ear infection, and they wanted to rule out anything else.

I was there alone with Tiff because I insisted that my husband stay at home with our son, who was also a baby at that time (Tiff and Jerry Jr. are only 19 months apart in age). Well, the nurses and doctors would not let me stay in the exam room because (I was told) I would not want to see this procedure, and I would be in the way. I stepped out of the room and all I remember hearing was my baby screaming at the top of her lungs. They had to hold me back because it was killing me inside not to be in the room with her. All I could do was break down and cry myself. I was a mess as they worked on my baby.

I was finally able to go into the room and I had pulled myself together by then. I didn’t want Tiff to see me in that state. When I got to her, she’d ceased crying as well, but the look in her eyes just went through me. First, you know how children and babies are after a big cry. Tears may have stopped, but they’re still breathing deeply from the big cry. But Tiffanie’s eyes asked me, “why did you leave me?” She was about 6 months old and could not talk, but her face, eyes, and tears said it all. I picked her up and could only hug her and kiss her, as I spoke sweetly to her to calm her down.

I felt so helpless. I also felt that way 5 years later when she had to have surgery. After they’d given her the anasthesia, they wheeled her off to the Operating Room. I crumbled and cried again as they entered the doors leaving me behind. I went as far with her as I could. I was again helpless. I could not fix the problem myself. I couldn’t help her. She was compeltely out of my hands, put under anasthesia, and I could not do anything for her.

Helpless!

That pain is so deep for a mother. And a mother never ceases to be a mother, even when our babies grow up. I was brought back to that feeling of helplessness last night as my now 22 year old Tiffanie experienced once more something that I could not fix. This time it wasn’t physical. It was emotional. Her heart was broken and she felt crushed inside. I couldn’t help her, again I was helpless.

As she told me of the news that she was not accepted into a particular graduate’s program that she wanted to attend, I heard her pain and dismay. And then I heard and felt her tears. Now, my Tiff is one who rarely ever cries. I’m the emotional one, not her. She was so deeply hurt and all I wanted to do was to pick her up, hug her, and speak sweetly to her. I couldn’t because she lives on campus and I am here at home. It was late at night and I wanted to jump in the car and make the hour and half drive because my child was hurting. But I couldn’t because I needed to be here at home with my youngest child.

Well, I couldn’t physically hug Tiff, but I did remain composed and soothing. I encouraged her, I empathized with her, I told her how much I love her and how proud I am of her. I did not tell her to stop crying, I told her to let it out. But, I let her know that this is only a bump in the road and it’s not the end. I said a lot more and I know that what I said was what she needed, but inside my heart was still hurting because my baby was hurting! I am sure that I’m like most parents in that we don’t want to see our children upset. And just as I felt when she was a baby and young child, I was helpless. I couldn’t fix it at that moment. I couldn’t make it better. I couldn’t make her better. I couldn’t remove the pain.

When we hung up, I lost it! I had my moment of gut-wrenching tears, yet again. Yes, once again, I was brought back to the ER and the OR.

I am thankful, however, that we have faith, hope, and trust in God. Today is a new day. We are moving forward exploring more options and we are confident that Tiff will indeed get into another graduate program. Even if it means that she has to sit a year out after she graduates in May, she will return to get her Master’s.

We are looking forward to great things!

Carla Y. Nix

God is awesome! That’s about all I can say. He’s truly awesome! I am thanking and praising God for His continued and steady Hand in my life as He orchestrates and directs my path. He has been true to His word to me, that 2009 would be the year where I will see Him work in HIS time if I only step back and allow Him to do His thing! A couple of thoughts come to mind on this:

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” ~Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

God is true to His Word. He is showing me the importance of following my calling and living on purpose. When we do that, we cannot be wrapped up in ourselves. We release our will to line up with God’s will in our lives. Therefore, we seek to do His will, be who and what He’s called us to, and our desire is simply to please the Lord.

I am always so adamant when I speak to groups, individuals, at church, on the radio, in my podcasts, that every single one of us has a purpose in life. You will not be happy until you are walking in that purpose. You will continue to feel out of sinc and out of sorts as long as you are not living ON purpose.

God has opened so many doors of opportunity for me so far this year, and we are only half way through February! To the average eye, what I’m speaking of may not seem like blessings because the path He’s leading me on is not a traditional one. My blessings are not tangible and my joy is not due to money. In fact, I still have no income and what I do is simply to honor and glorify God. He continually blesses me by providing and keeping me. Who would’ve thought? Wow!

God is awesome, again, is all I can say about that.

Even this blog is a blessing, as He is using this avenue to allow me to touch and bless lives. Under the umbrella of my own website (will be fully functional next week), He will allow me to branch out in the direction – the path – that He has set me on.

Stay tuned!

Remember, you can live ON purpose!

Blessings,

Carla Y. Nix