The Three R's

Repentance | Redemption | Restoration

 

     Helping others was my goal for writing my first two books. I needed to be very transparent and real with the retelling of my colorful past to do this.  We all struggle with so many things in life and I want to offer encouragement through my books and classes to those who are going through rough times; like dealing with the repercussions of mistakes, life happenstances, or finding themselves out of rope and out of hope.

I had abandoned my God, who promised me a hope and a future, for thirteen years and for a DIY life that took me into a dark abyss. My story is one of repentance, redemption, and restoration and I want to share how I became an overcomer. An overcomer of what seemed at the time, an impossible mountain of stuff to work through.

The Bible study I wrote, “Making Wise Choices”, is about change. Just like the caterpillar, we must demolish our old selves down to the point that the only DNA left is God’s DNA to start the rebuilding process. Only then, with God’s help, will we be able to become the beautiful butterfly, the person, that God created us to be.

Let’s look at the THREE R’s that had to take place for me to get headed in the right direction. Up.

  
Repentance

The definition of Repentance is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling remorse or regret (two more R’s) for past wrongs. It involves a commitment to personal change and the resolve (another r) to live a more responsible and humane life.

Redemption calls for confession and repentance.

Mirrors never lie so look at yourself in the mirror and take a good hard look. Ask yourself some honest questions that you may have been avoiding the answers to. What is it you need to work on? What is keeping you from living a holy life? What has you all bound up inside? It can be many things. You will need to confess these things to our Heavenly Father and repent.  

Two encouraging verses come to mind when making a commitment towards positive personal change. Philippians 4:13, ^“I can do all this through him who gives me strength. And Matthew 19:26, "But Jesus looked at them, and said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

In the Philippians verse, Paul is speaking to the church in Philippi and he is thanking them for their gift of aid. He is talking about his times of need and his times of plenty and how he has learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. And he states that he can only do this through him who gives him the strength to do it.

One of the first steps to personal change is learning the secret that Paul is talking about.

Iwantitis (instant gratification) usually leads us, tricks us, into making bad choices. And Jesus can give us the strength to be content and help us fight impulsive behaviors.

In the Matthew 19 passage, Jesus is speaking in the region of Judea. A rich man had asked him what he needed to do to get eternal life. Jesus first told him to keep the commandments. The man replied he has done that and inquired as to what he still lacked. Jesus said If you want to be perfect, then go sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. The man went away sad, for he was very rich. “...it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven”, Jesus said to his disciples. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” v.25 “…Who can be saved then?” the disciples inquired.

We cannot save ourselves, and the most impossible thing for us to do is to get into heaven on our own, it is simply impossible. There are many other things in life that we cannot do on our own as well. This verse is saying that by having FAITH in God, all things are possible. And most importantly, heaven is possible through Jesus Christ.

Some of us may need to learn the Secret of Content that Paul is talking about to help us make some changes. Some of us might need to have more faith that God will give us the strength that we need to do the day to day and make changes.  

We can deviate from our bad behaviors with His strength. His strength makes us overcomers, not victims. His strength empowers us to make the right choices. His strength helps us to face our fears and take on insurmountable challenges and do the impossible!!

Redemption

The definition of redemption means to free someone from bondage. It often involves the paying of a ransom, a price, that makes redemption possible.

EXAMPLES:

• The Israelites were redeemed from Egypt.
• We were redeemed from the power of sin and the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13) “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
• We were redeemed through Jesus (Rom. 3:24) “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Col. 1:14) “…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
• AND We were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20) “You were bought at a price, so therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Cor. 7:23) “…do not become slaves of human beings.”

The word redemption also was used in terms of the releasing of a slave, or for releasing someone placed under the death sentence.

The word redemption in the Bible references freeing someone from bondage.

Biblical redemption centers on God as the ultimate redeemer. He saves his chosen ones from sin, evil, trouble, bondage, and death. Redemption is an act of God's grace, rescuing and restoring of his people. You can see His act of redemption woven throughout the Bible.

Restoration

The Biblical meaning of the word "restoration" is to receive back more than what has been lost, to the point, where the final state is greater than the original condition.

Let’s look at two different kinds of biblical restoration.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 (ESV)

The restoration, in this verse, is speaking about the restoration of the soul and spirit, one that can only come from God. Only He can restore our joy, hope, and peace. We can get ourselves depleted with life and become overwhelmed with messes, struggles, and responsibilities. We get depleted because we forget to keep God at the center of everything. Renewing or “restoring” a right relationship with God brings us back to the place of contentment and inner peace.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, encouraging them to get along with each other. Being able to live in peace and harmony will help us experience God’s love and peace more fully. We must always seek restoration with others.

We can have redemption, repentance, healing, and restoration for our lives. We have the power to change! With God, his Word, and a great accountability partner, we can be overcomers! No questions asked. How do I know this? Because that’s how I did it!

Be well my friends!

Debra Lee, Author & Keynote Speaker

Blogger | Life Coach | Biz Coach

From the lecture series for “Making Wise Choices” Bible Study.

“It Is What It Is…But It Wasn’t A Tragedy” & “Making Wise Choices…the most important life skill to master.”

 

Explain That Cover!

Here's the official explanation for the cover of "It Is What It Is...But It Wasn't A Tragedy"

This is my story, and I am sticking to it!!! LOL!

      Writers know that coming up with the perfect cover design for their book is just as important as the contents within. A cover must catch the reader’s attention and draw them in. When a book sits on the bookstore shelves with many other titles, it should stand out and lure shoppers to investigate and learn more about the story tucked away inside.

Sometimes a cover helps us imagine what the scenery or the characters might look like. Other covers get straight to the point, not a lot of art, just words and some color, but words and color that snag some attention. Many hours of brainstorming can go into creating and designing this very first and most important marketing tool for a book.  

Some writers design their own covers, others employ designers, then there are the publishers with their ideas for a cover with their creative staff. It’s good to have several ideas to choose from as well as some different opinions. Whoever the creative genius is, they need to understand the content of the book.

I, however, stepped out of bounds a bit when I had my book cover designed. It looks more like a children’s book. I’ve even had some stores place it in their children’s section by accident. This book is absolutely not a children’s book!

I used Create Space to design my cover. I answered their short questionnaire about my thoughts for the cover and they quickly designed two options for me to pick from.

As my readers gave me their reviews for the book, I would sometimes get questioned about the cover. Most would ask, “What’s the deal with the cover, it’s a bit deceiving, isn’t it?” So let me explain.

I wanted the cover to represent me, after all, it is my autobiography. Those who know me well can testify that the cover is me. Bright and sunny!

Each element of the cover represents something about me or my story. Although blue is my favorite color, the bright yellow cover better represents my upbeat personality, and it helps the book pop off the bookstore shelves. The smiling sun is me. I’ve been called sunshine and golden girl, I don’t know how many times during my life, and I smile all the time.

The clouds and wavy sky represent the ebb and flow of life, like a jet stream if you will. The title of the book is set as a wave, representing my rollercoaster life. Bright pink, seriously, what girl can live without some pink! The butterflies represent new life and new beginnings as I have been given these gifts!

A Daisy flower garden waves in the wind at the bottom of the book. The fresh white Daisy flower brings up different kinds of emotions for me depending upon what stage of my life this flower has appeared.

As a very young girl, I received a gift set of Daisy lotion and perfume. The set was creatively designed to appeal to the senses of very young girls, and I loved the fresh sweet smell. As a teenager, now I’m dating myself, the Daisy flower was the symbol for the slogan “flower power”. I would sit for hours daydreaming and drawing the Daisy flower. I would place it symbolically in different drawings or paintings, or just made it totally the center of attention.

One of my prom dresses was made of light blue organza covered in tiny white flocked Daisies.  For my first wedding, a ring of white Daisy flowers adorned my hair, and I carried a bridal bouquet mixed with white Daisies.

Today, I have wildflower Daisies growing in one of my gardens.

The deceiving part of all of this? Well, not all the topics in the book are full of sunshine with a built-in cuteness factor, and it’s not all smiles like the cover might suggest. There is a lot of encouragement and some funny stuff, but if you’ve read it and you still don’t get the cover, re-read it.

My hope is to inspire my readers and share with them how they, too, can have the same sunshine that I have in my life even when things get tough, dark, overwhelming, and depressing. It’s about being an overcomer, a survivor, and a thriver, while learning how to deal with some of life’s challenging lessons!

 

Blessings!

Debra Lee

 

Q&A with just Debra

Question: What can I use around the house for spiders? ~ Karla

This is in reference to wood balconies and spiders hiding in the cracks.

     It is spider season, and we are all on the warpath to get them under control. Bugs in general seem to be at an all-time high because of the weather changes! 

 

Argiope Spider

Spiders are good for keeping down the bugs! Their webs help them keep a steady diet of bugs. When I can, I leave the spiders alone to do their thing. For instance, the spider pictured is an Argiope Spider. I usually have a couple that live in my gardens. They are big and look scary, but they do their job in keeping down bugs. They are not aggressive. They might bite if grabbed, but other than for defense they do not attack large animals. Their venom often contains a library of polyamine toxins with potential as therapeutic medicinal agents. A bite by Argiope is comparable to a bee sting with redness and swelling.

Occasionally, I get a Wolf Spider in the house. They are big, fuzzy and a bit scary looking. I do not stomp them out. I pick them up with a Kleenex and let them outside to do their job. Again, not poisonous.

None of us want to harbor spiders in our home, especially the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow. We do live in an area that has them; both can do some damage to us if we get bit!!!

I know spiders have a tendency to return to their homes, especially if they were good homes! Outside of destroying their habitats by keeping your space swept and clean, here are a few helps.

• Make sure the area is clear of debris, like leaves twigs, cardboard, things they like to hide in. Cardboard is the worse. I only use plastic tubs in my house for the storage area.
• You can set out Glue Pads to trap them. This will keep them from getting into your house around the doors as well. Mouse Glue Pads work fine for this. The pads will also collect any other bugs you get in your house. (Make sure you don't step on the pads! There's a story here and an LOL moment! ...Only me.)
• There are DIY sprays you can make. They will not kill the spiders, but the scent will deter them from using the space.

Here is the recipe. Mix in a 16oz spray bottle.  7 drops of oil (see below), 3 drops dish soap. Add oil, fill bottle with warm water to 1” from top, then add dish soap and shake.

Some people have found that citrus-based, tea tree, lavender, neem, or peppermint essential oils work to deter spiders. I would use tea tree oil; it is really pungent. You can also add a splash of vinegar to the spray. Spray the mixture into cracks and crevices and anywhere else you believe spiders are living.

Another DIY Solution: A single cup of apple cider, a cup of pepper, a teaspoon of oil, and a teaspoon of liquid soap. 16oz bottle, add oil, fill bottle with warm water to 1” from top, then add dish soap and shake.

Spray several times a week, especially after a rain if you are treating outdoors. Spray any indoor entry locations as well.

If you have a really bad problem with spiders, like an infestation, then an exterminator should be called! 

Stay Safe and Spider Free everyone!

Debra Lee, Author & Keynote Speaker

Blogger | Biz Coach | Life Coach

A Father's Day Tribute

Charles D. Hanna

     The word father may not always create a good feeling, memory, or have a significant meaning for many.

Some have had to live with an abusive father and have a hard time reconciling the word “father” with love. A host of others spend their entire lives learning how to overcome and move past the hurts that came from abandonment or a death of a father. For those who have had to suffer in this way, I am truly sorry.

After having worked in the social services realm for a stint, it appears as though in today’s world we can count it as a privilege to have a loving father or father figure in our lives while we are being raised.

I was someone who was blessed to have a father who, while not perfect, did his best by his children. The following are just a few excerpts from my book “It Is What It Is…But It Wasn’t A Tragedy” in which I give tribute to my father.

 …My dad was a larger-than-life kind of a person! When he walked into a room and smiled, the party began! My dad’s career determined where we would live, like most families in those days. Dad was very outgoing, hardworking, a little rough around the edges sometimes, and wasn’t afraid of anything, which was good considering he chose law enforcement for his career...

 …One time my dad knocked on the door of a prostitute who lived across the street from my parents and asked her if he could take her children to church on Sundays. She didn’t mind at all, and the kids loved my dad. I can remember those kids running through the church halls after Sunday school waving their color pages. “Mr. Hanna, Mr. Hanna!” they would scream. They were so excited to show him their artwork and would tell him what they had learned in Sunday school. Eventually they moved away but just to think that those kids will probably never forget Mr. Hanna. He took the time to be with them and gave them attention regardless of what their family situation at home was all about. My dad had a positive influence on many people while he was on this earth. If a prisoner asked him faith questions, it was nothing for him to witness to them as he drove them off to the state pen…

 …mom finally got it out of me about my being teased for my height. When mom told dad about it, he had a chat with me. I will never forget what he told me because it was one of the most brilliant confidence boosters I could have ever had, and it has stuck with me my entire life. Dad sat down and looked at me at eye level. “Tall is beautiful, and don’t you ever forget it,” he stated. Dads, if you have never told your daughters that they are beautiful you are missing out!

 …Father lived for only two months after his final diagnosis, but those two months were the most meaningful to me. He was such a great man of honor and fought a good fight to the end. He was as brave as he had always been known to be even when the chemo treatments brought his body down. He lost a lot of weight as we struggled to find something that he could eat and keep down. His pain was so immense. I often took father to his doctor appointments and to his chemo treatments. We had wonderful chats about things that mattered and things that didn’t. I loved those talks that we had; he always stayed pretty optimistic throughout the whole ordeal…

 …I sat down beside my father’s bed and began to pray through my tears, “Father God, I know you are a merciful god. Dad has been a good and faithful servant. He loves you and I know he will spend eternity with you. Please take him quickly. Do not let him suffer any longer. Please take him before my mother arrives this morning. She needs to be spared from this painful moment. Amen.”

 As I sat beside his bed, I started to read the Bible. It is so hard to pray a prayer like that. In all of our selfishness we want to keep our loved ones with us longer, but I felt that it was time for him to move on to heaven. His mission here on earth was accomplished and what a mission it had been! Besides his being a great husband and father as well as our family spiritual leader, he had touched so many, many lives throughout his lifetime…

Yes, my father was larger than life. His law enforcement/political career kept him in the lime-life, but he was always just a plain good old boy, who loved God and his family. I count it as a blessing to have been able to call him dad.

I could always count on him but now he is with his heavenly father residing in the most spectacular of all places.

Some of you reading this may not have had the blessing of an earthly father. But know that all of us have a heavenly father who loves us, cares for us, and wants us to call upon him.

I look forward to the day when I will see my earthly daddy and my heavenly father! What a glorious day that will be!

Debra Lee