Joy in Unexpected Places

October 30, 2015October 30, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 2 Comments

Today, I have the privilege of guest-posting on Jean Wilund’s website, Join the Journey. Jean has a beautiful passion for the Lord and a gift for sharing His Word.

“If you’re looking to fall in love with God and His Word and see it make a difference in your life, you’re in the perfect place. That’s my goal, too. Let’s do it together.” —Jean Wilund

Jean is also a fellow football fan 🙂 (Although I’m a tad concerned about the NC State VS. Clemson game coming up…yes, she’s a Tiger’s fan)

So, when you get a chance, hop on over to Join the Journey! Check out Football, Fireworks, and a Big Green Piano, then hang around with Jean and soak up come GREAT Bible teaching.

Have a blessed day and GO PANTHERS! (and WOLFPACK!)

Sweet Autumn

October 27, 2015October 29, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

Ah, autumn in the South. Is there anything more wonderful?

Cool mornings, warm afternoons.

Cotton fields.

Bright yellow mums.

Pumpkins.

Sugar maples and red maples displaying their glory.

Football (Oops, sorry. Don’t know how that slipped into the list…).

I am loving these beautiful days. But in the midst of this autumn-joy, there is a sense of heaviness. This old world is just not quite…right.

Do you feel it?

Is the surrounding beauty diminished because of worry, anxiety, or hardship?

May I share the verses that comfort me when stress threatens to steal my joy?

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Do You Qualify?

October 6, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 2 Comments

I am thankful to be a part of a church family who is serious about the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Over the coming weeks we have teams serving in New York, Baltimore, Senegal, and Guatemala. Still others will serve our local community through ministry in nursing homes and homeless shelters. Many will be involved in prayer-walking and in leading block parties.

Whatever gifts and abilities a person has—there is a unique place to plug in and be a part of reaching the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some, however, still doubt they have anything to offer. They feel intimidated about signing on the dotted line and committing to serve. I can’t speak or preach or travel 2000 miles…

So…just for fun, I’d like to share a simple poem that outlines important qualifications required for involvement in ministry.

As long as someone can check at least one thing on this list, they are good to go…

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Football, Peanuts, and the Greatest Love of All

September 7, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 3 Comments

So, here’s the thing—I like football. I mean, I really like it. College, pro, whatever.

(I’m partial to the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints.)

I’m pretty sure it goes back to my childhood when my family lived in Luling, Louisiana, a small town just outside of New Orleans. My dad would manage to get tickets to see the Saints play at Tulane Stadium on a Sunday afternoon (yes, we would slip out of church services a few minutes early) and he would take my sister and me with him, giving my mom a much-needed break.

There, in the upper section, Dad would cheer/moan/groan as Archie Manning did his best to carry his teammates to victory (um…didn’t usually happen). And it was there that a ten-year-old girl fell in love with the game.

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See You in September

August 6, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

It’s that time of year for our family—a time to step away from regular responsibilities and to seek rest and renewal.

Heart Undivided will take a brief hiatus as well. I already look forward to returning in a few weeks with (hopefully) new perspective and fresh creativity!

Thank you for traveling with me these past months—what an adventure! Let’s continue to pray for each other in the coming weeks—for strength and courage to keep a Jesus heart each day. 🙂

You are loved,

Leigh Ann

…He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31b

Upside-Down, Indeed

July 27, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 1 Comment

As I prayed about this week’s post, I couldn’t stop thinking about current events in our community, our nation, and the world.

For many, 2015 has been steeped in sorrow.

“Lone-wolf” shootings, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and government scandals rock the nightly newscasts. Human life is discarded like so much trash. Those who mock God’s laws are lauded as “heroes” while those who stand for righteousness are called “bigots.”

Not to mention Satan’s use of our political and justice systems to wage war against Christ-centered laws and precepts.

We do live in an upside-down world and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to wonder if God is still in control. But we have to remind ourselves…

He is.

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When the Shadows Fall

June 30, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 2 Comments

The other day, as I went about my daily work, I found myself humming a familiar hymn: I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord…

The stories behind our most beloved hymns are fascinating to me, so I took a few minutes to research this one.

“I Need Thee Every Hour” was penned in 1872 by Annie Hawks (music by her pastor, Robert Lowry).

In Annie’s own words:

One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me.

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Date Night

June 15, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

For the last couple of weekends I’ve enjoyed spending time with my grandsons (that would be Jack and Benjamin 🙂 ) so that their parents could enjoy a little “couple time.”

I am a big believer in the importance of Date Night—especially when your children are little. Something about getting away for even a couple of hours gives a parent fresh perspective and renewed strength to keep going.

Watching my daughters and sons-in-law brought back a lot of memories. I loved how each couple left amid a dozen instructions and a flurry of call-if-you-need-us reminders before racing to their cars. Then—and I knew it would be this way—they were just as eager to return home, scooping up their tiny rascals and planting multiple kisses on sweet faces.

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What is that Smell?

June 8, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

Have you ever had to investigate a suspicious household smell? Maybe someone forgets to take out the trash or a little food gets trapped in the kitchen sink. Or maybe a child’s laundry doesn’t quite make it into the hamper and ends up under a bed or thrown into a corner of the closet.

One thing about this kind of odor—it can’t be ignored. Or covered.

Now, you may think you know where I’m going with this. “She’s going to relate this to sin. Stuff about odor always comes back to sin.”

Nope. Not this time (although there is an excellent life-lesson there…).

Let’s take a different path.

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Come to the Mountain

May 22, 2015October 10, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

The mountain-top experience…

For a few moments or days you’re transported above the everyday-ness of life to a place of worship, praise, and new perspective. Communion with God is over-the-top real and vibrant. You want to linger over His Word as His gentle whisper reaches to the corners of your heart. The weight of burdens and responsibilities ever-so-briefly fall away, giving freedom to lift tired hands in expressions of thanksgiving and praise. You have the longing to stay in these moments just a little bit longer…

This past week at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference was a glorious blur of like-hearted creative souls coming together to grow, learn, and share—with the ultimate purpose of fine-tuning our skills to glorify God through the written word. Friendships were formed and strengthened. Encouragement rained down from faculty, staff, and other attendees. To put it simply—it was fun.

Then came the time to say goodbye, with myriad promises to keep in touch and to hold each other accountable in the days ahead. We walked away from the mountain with fresh resolve—and perhaps, a bit of trepidation: Uh, Lord, I’m not sure about this…I felt so strong this week, but now I will be alone…

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