Mentors

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My ipod strikes again. Today’s song that spoke to my heart was called 6th Avenue Heartache by The Wallflowers. The song itself is about history repeating itself, and the singers struggle to move on. The line that sticks out goes:

and the same black line that was drawn on you, was drawn on me, and now its pulling me in.

The title of this post is called mentors for a reason, but I will get to that in just a second. First, let me explain what got me on this line of thinking. If you think of the black lines as sin it would make sense to say that the singer is expressing that both people are sinners, and one is succumbing to something that is wrong. He is getting sucked in by something that is sinful. I thought about my own life and how many times I have been enticed by sin, taken the bait, and fallen. The thought is not only sobering, but humiliating. It brings me to a point of utter thankfulness for the grace of God and for the people He has placed in my life. My mentors.

I have had the honor to befriend some very remarkable ladies over my almost 40 years on this earth. I make a point to e-mail them monthly to let them know how I am doing and to tell them of my prayer needs. They share with me their needs as well, and no matter how many miles separate us, I know I can count on them to be interceding for me…God has certainly blessed me. Let me introduce you to them and give you some background on how God crossed our paths.

Janice Hughes is one of the most godly ladies I have ever known. She has known me since I was a teenager, and saw me come to know Christ. She was my Sunday school teacher for many years, and has done nothing but model grace and compassion for me and all who know her. She prays for me specifically on Monday mornings, and she types out the e-mail for me to read. I have all her e-prayers saved and from time to time when I begin to miss her, I look back on them….its a sweet thing…

Lorie Stephenson is my oldest friend. Our moms grew up together and she and I were forced to play together as kids. As we grew up we became really close, and I always looked at Lorie as the sister I never had. She is also a school teacher and has two awesome children and a great husband who treats her like a queen. Its such a blessing to see how God continues to pour out His favor on her and her family. She was extremely instrumental in leading me to Christ, and God used her in more ways than she will ever know. I still think of her as a sister, and now, we are sisters in Christ…so cool

Leah Goslen is exactly one day older than me. I met Leah in Hawaii when her husband Ted came to the BCM and led Bible studies with the college kids…He was a pastor and she was the worship leader in their church. We instantly had that music bond and hit it off the first time we met. She is a pillar of strength and I have been fortunate enough to witness God bring her and Ted through many trials…she is a woman of God that relies on Him for everything. They have a child now, and this is allowing me to see her in a new role: a mom. They have since moved to California and I got to spend Thanksgiving with them a couple of years ago. It was a lot of fun. I know we will always be close. I love you my Philipino sistah!

Jamie Morgan is one of my dear friends from seminary. She shares a heart for the lost and we also share a calling for missions. I met her during the first hour of being at SWBTS and she and immediately became the best of friends. She is often a very plain-spoken voice of reason for me and usually has a unique perspective on things. She really helped push me during the rough spots in seminary, especially when I lost my grandmother, and she continues to push me now. Much love James!!

Kendra Lindsey was a lady I met when I first arrived here in Houston. Her children were enrolled at the school in which I taught, and she and I were introduced by a mutual acquaintence. She was looking to mentor a single woman and I was looking to be mentored by a godly wife and mother..so it was a no-brainer that the two of us start meeting. God used her in so many ways the two years we met..she tough loved me through a very hard time, probably the hardest in my life. God has since moved her and her family to a foreign country into full time missions, and I haven’t seen her in a couple of years. I just found out yesterday that when I get back from Ethiopia, she will be here for a month…I can’t tell you how eager I am to just sit with her and talk face to face…and let her see me, healed and moving forward because of her (and many other peoples) prayers.

Sandy Griffin is a lady at my current church, and if you go to Sagemont, the Griffins are no strangers to you. They are an older couple with so much love and wisdom. Sandy was a teacher in my singles class, and really taught me a lot while I sat under her leadership. I asked her to mentor me when Kendra moved, and Sandy prayed and felt God telling her yes…and I am so glad she did. She is another ‘tough love’ giver and really tells it like it is…which is something I totally appreciate. I always look forward to our meetings because I know I am going to walk away encouraged and better than when I arrived. I call Sandy my “Texas mom”.

So now, you have met my six…but there is another amazing lady God is giving me the opportunity to get to know and befriend, Cindy Walker. She too is a lady from my church, and God is developing a solid friendship between she and I. I am fortunate enough to know her whole family, and I see the kind of mother and wife she through the conversations I have and the choices I see her girls make. She has done great with raising them, and God have her a great partner to help with that. She is definitely a great role model for me…thanks Cindy!

Why a post like this? To show you, the reader, the importance of Godly people in your life. People that can see you all dirty and muddy and love you anyway. People who can say things that might sting a bit, but in turn help bring healing to your life. People that are Christ centered and real. People who can see the real you and love you anyway. Friends. When you have godly friends and people who will hold you accountable, you don’t have to worry about that black sin drawing you in. But if in fact you do make a bad choice and it does..you have someone who can help pull you out. And thats a very sweet thing.

I can only hope that someday, I can pour into young ladies half as well as these ladies are with me..I pray that I can model Christ in ways that draw others closer to Him…as I close I claim this verse from Titus Chapter 2:

3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,

not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind,

and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

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Filed under Family, Love, Missions/Jesus, life

Tags: accountability, church, Cindy Walker, friends, Jamie Morgan, janice hughes, Jesus, kendra lindsey, Leah Goslen, lorie stephenson, Love, mentors, sandy griffin, Titus chapter 2