Tag Archive | Lee Ann Smith

To God Be The Glory

Preparations for a day of food, family and fun are well underway. Thanksgiving Day with all its excitement is here! As I sit sipping my morning coffee in my favorite chair, I find myself pondering all I am thankful for in my life.

I am thankful for:

My mom for giving birth to me and loving me even when I am not loveable.
My Grandparents for loving me rotten (Our Nanny Miller)
My Sisters and Brother for looking up to me as their big sister
My precious husband for wrapping his loving arms around me and saying I do…and still does
My daughters Tori and Brandi who I adore and cherish with all my heart
My Grandchildren Cheyenne, Mike, and Brandon who rock my world
My precious friends for loving me in spite of my warts
All who are willing put aside their own lives to fight for our freedom

Above all other, I am so incredibly thankful for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…without them my being would be void of life!

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalms 95:2 which is what Andrae Crouch has done in the song “To God Be The Glory”

To God Be The Glory

How Can I Say Thanks
for The Things You Have Done For Me
things So Undeserved
yet You Give To Prove Your Love For Me
the Voices Of A Million Angels
cannot Express My Gratitude
all That I Am Or Ever Hope To Be
I Owe It All To Thee

(Chorus)
to God Be The Glory
to God Be The Glory
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done
with His Blood, He Has Saved Me
by His Power, He Has Raised Me.
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done

(Bridge)
just Let Me Live My Life
and Let It Be Pleasing, Lord To Thee
and Should I Gain Any Praise,
let It Go To Calvary.

with His Blood, He Has Saved Me
by His Power, He Has Raised Me.
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done.

While you are thankful…Have you given Him the Glory?

Love Lee ♥

Our Nanny Miller

Nov24

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time to reflect on the people and things we have to be thankful for. But for me, Thanksgiving is about traditions and getting to do the things I witnessed my grandmother do for all those years.

I will never forget all the wonderful Thanksgiving meals my Nanny Miller prepared for our family. She planned for weeks getting her work list organized. She planned the menu and had all the steps to down to a “T”. She was amazing!!! The family would walk in the door and everything was ready to eat and she would greet each of us with a great big hug and a kiss. No one realized the amount of time she spent on a meal because she made it look effortless…

BUT…IT WAS NOT!!!

As I got older my Nanny began to teach me her recipes for turkey and dressing, pies, and other goodies. She taught me how to plan the meal, when to cook what, and most importantly the importance of keeping a good attitude no matter what.

Being her first grandchild and the oldest of four children Nanny encouraged me to take on our family gatherings. I was about 25 years old when Nanny sat me down and asked, “Lee, how would you feel about having Thanksgiving at your house this year?”. She then said the words that made me ok with taking on the family gatherings. She said, “I will help you”. And, she did…She gave me suggestions and gentle guidance on how to’s. For a while she continued to cook and bring in her dishes. It was awesome when she arrived the entire family would squeal with pleasure…One would say, “Yeah Nanny’s here…I can’t wait for a piece of her pecan pie” while another would say “Yeah Nanny’s here…I can’t wait to eat one of her rolls.”. Everyone had a like but without a doubt everyone’s favorite was her cornbread dressing!!!

From that Thanksgiving on our home has become the place for our family to gather for food, fun, and laughter. It is a privilege and I am so thankful my family is willing to come here so the traditions passed on by our Nanny Miller can be carried on.

Today as I bake the cornbread and place the turkey in the brine, I can’t help but think of my Nanny Miller and how terribly I miss her. But, her legacy lives on and she is still helping me. The advice she gave me all those years ago are still put into practice today and the minute the first person walks through the door all the hard work is suddenly worth it!!!

I Thank God for My Nanny Miller and all the grandmothers out there like her who are willing to teach the future generations about traditions and the importance of people in those traditions.

While I miss her terribly….There is no doubt in my mind Nanny Miller’s cornbread dressing is being featured at the banquet table in Heaven!

Love Lee ♥

Keeping Your Promises

Nov23

Who out there has said, “I will…” but knew deep down “You Wouldn’t? Often people commit to things or people without giving any thought to the implications or consequences. Then when the time arrives to follow through with the commitment they realize it was never their intention to carry out what was promised so the excuses begin to flow.

Parents do this frequently. They tell the child whatever it takes to pacify them at the time. Then when it is time to deliver what was promised the parent is no longer quite so eager to please.

Before making a commitment or promise to someone you might want to consider the following:

Do you intend to you keep your word and follow through?
Is the commitment something you can realistically carry out?
Did you write down the commitment you made?
Do you know why you are making the promise?
Do you know what you hope to gain from the promise and the consequences of failure?

Keeping promises demonstrates our “True Inner Self.” It shows whether or not we have corruptible or incorruptible morals inside of us. Integrity, Honor, Self-respect and Honesty means everything to man and to the Lord! A broken promise means a broken trust and relationship. Trust and respect as well as one’s honor is the basis of our relationship with our Lord. He expects us to keep promises to others as well!

…The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. Psalms 145:13. Your Heavenly Father is the greatest promise keeper ever. His word is chalked full of promises for His children. He provides the perfect example to us His kids teaching us the importance of keeping those promises. We should strive to follow His example.

So, what promises have you made?

It is never too late to deliver!!!

Love Lee ♥

I Just Can’t Control Myself

Nov22

You think you have no self-control Well, just let your neighbor ring the doorbell while you are in the middle of throwing a wall-eyed fit. What do you do? You plaster a great big smile on your face and in a sugary sweet voice you greet that neighbor as any Southern Belle would do. You invite them in and you carry on a conversation with them as if absolutely nothing had upset your apple cart 5 minutes prior.

Now, that’s self-control if I ever saw it!!!

Self control is a fruit of the spirit which is gifted to you the day you ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. But, that gift is given as a seed. It must be cultivated, nurtured and matured. It is not a full-grown plant the day you receive it.

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

What is it in your life that causes you to lose control of yourself? What pushes your buttons? Could it be…

The kids fighting
Your husband leaving his underwear on the floor
Dirty dishes in the sink
Toilet paper hung backward on the roll
The tooth pasted squeezed in the middle rather than rolled from the bottom
A huge piece of Chocolate Cake left out on the counter
A person which rubs you the wrong way

Whatever it is that sets you off, doesn’t have to. You have the seed of Self Control given to you by your heavenly Father. All you must do is exercise it in order for it to be strengthened. In time you will become stronger and much more proficient at using it. Much like one is strengthened by physical exercise.

You can be in control…

Love Lee ♥

She is Wonderfully and Marvelously Made

Nov21

It was a normal day for me…nothing out of the ordinary going on when the phone rang. It was my dear friend Jennifer Cannan and she was crying. Through her sobs I heard, “Can John and I come over? We’ve been at the doctor’s office today and we need to talk to someone.”

Within 15 minutes John and Jennifer were walking through the door. Both looked like they had been hit by a mac truck! Before she spoke, I grabbed her and held her while she sobbed on my shoulder. After a minute she was able to speak, “The doctor says Alisha is autistic.”

Because Alisha’s speech was delayed, we knew something was wrong…but Autism???? How do you wrap your head around that diagnosis???

Jennifer, being the take charge kind of person she is, immediately began to read everything she could get her hands on about Autism. She reached out to anyone with knowledge of Autism or anyone who knew of available resources for Autistic children. It wasn’t long after Alisha was diagnosed, she was enrolled in school and immediately the work began.

Within a very short period of time Alisha began to interact verbally with others. In fact her vocabulary grew to the point she was utilizing “big” words typically used only by adults. She began to laugh and interact with others on an emotional level as well.

Alisha was at my home for Halloween this year. She did not come for candy…She came to visit me and to give my candy away because in addition to Autism, Alisha has been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. So, since she couldn’t have the candy she was elated to stand in my doorway and pass out candy to the trick or treaters who could. Then when my brother reached for a piece of candy, she provided him with a lecture on the perils of eating candy causing him to sneak his bites of candy when she was not looking.

Alisha is an adorable little girl who loves deeply everyone she encounters. She finds great pleasures in the most simple things. She is funny and witty making those around her laugh even when they aren’t in the mood to laugh. She says the cutest things and her mother is good to share them with us on Facebook. A couple posts by Jennifer I especially love…

“Mama, Can you come rub my back? I think there is a bone in it and it is really starting to hurt me.” How does she come up with these things?!?!?! Going to put on my masseuse hat….brb…a mother’s job is never done! LOL
“Alisha just informed me that she was “filthy, stinkin’ rich.” She then proceeded to show me that her change purse was full of coins plus she had 6 dollar bills. LOL”
“Alisha just told me that I needed to get bigger, uglier glasses since I am getting older. Nice! ROFL”

Today I was reminded of Alisha and her struggles and challenges in life when I read a post on Facebook by Alisha’s mom, Jennifer Cannan. It read…

“Kids with special needs aren’t sick or gross or stupid, and their handicaps not contagious. They only want what we all want: to be accepted and loved. Can I make a request: is anyone willing to post this and leave it as your status for at least an hour to spread the awareness? It is Special Education Week, and this is …in honor of ALL the children who were wonderfully and marvelously made.”

Do you know a child that is wonderfully and marvelously made? If so please honor them today!

I would like to take this opportunity honor my precious little friend Alisha Cannan…Alisha, your Aunt Lee Lee loves you Doll ♥

Love Lee ♥

Beyond Your Imagination

Nov19

While digging through the refrigerator, my husband will yell out “Where’s the ______ (whatever it is he’s looking for). I get up from my chair, walk to the refrigerator, reach in and move one item, and while handing him what he was looking for I say, “You might have to move something.” After going though this routine several times I no longer have to get up out of my chair, I only have to call out “You might have to move something.” and miraculously he is able to locate what he needs.

In much the same way we as humans tend to only see what is right in front of our face and forget there is so much more…We are told in 2 Corinthians, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Because I have never seen heaven, I can only imagine what it is going to be like and how awesome it will be when we see Jesus for the first time. In fact, the song “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe says it best.

I Can Only Imagine

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

What are you looking for in the refrigerator of life…Stop looking at what is right in front of your face…the here and now.

Love Lee ♥

Are You Walking in the FOG

Nov17

Do you really believe it was luck that delivered you from a that near wreck you had? Or do you think your boss was nice to you because you’re all that? Do you think the unexpected check came in the mail at the exact time you needed it was just a coincidence? I think not…It is favor!!!

I do not believe in luck…

I Believe in FAVOR and I choose to walk in the FOG (Favor of God)

I like what the article What does having the favor of God mean? has to say about favor. To favor means to give special regard to; to treat with goodwill; to show exceptional kindness to someone. Sometimes, it means to show extra kindness in comparison to the treatment of others; that is, preferential treatment. God gives His children favor.

Joel Osteen says it like this. “I believe God’s favor is something intangible where you’ve got God’s blessings on your lives.”

In the 10 Benefits of Walking in the Favor of God Pastor Winston Reyes of Victory Fort lists the following as benefits we as God’s kids can be entitled to.

Supernatural increase and promotion
Restoration of everything that has been taken from you
Honor even in midst of adversaries
Increase assets especially in the area of real estate
Provision and overflowing harvest
Protection from the LORD
Prominence and preferential treatment
Prayers are heard and answered
Purpose of God is accomplished through you
Battles are won in which you won’t even have to fight because God will fight them for you

Are You Walking in the FOG?

If so, stop calling it luck and call it what it is…

IT IS GOD’S FAVOR!!!

Love Lee ♥

Do You Have Something To Give?

Nov16

I love Extreme Make Over Home Edition…To see someone who is down on their luck receive a hand up from a community is so touching! I am sure it is such a rush for the people involved too. Not only do they get to participate in the outpouring of love on a good and deserving person but they also get to be in the spotlight surrounded by the cameras and glam of TV. It is such a great cause and some very giving people are highlighted.

But…what happens when the lights go out, the cameras go off, and everyone goes home?

Unfortunately, it is human nature to do for others only when people are watching but it takes a special and obedient person to give when no one is watching. In Matthew we are taught we will be blessed when we give in private.

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

One of mine and Richard’s favorite ways to give is to go out to eat and pick up the tab for total strangers and to do it anonymously. Or to lean over and whisper to the grocery clerk “put it on my tab” for a person standing in the grocery line having to put food items back because they don’t have the money to pay.

Do you know someone in need and if so what are you doing about it? As Thanksgiving approaches, I encourage you to open your eyes and heart and give to those who are less fortunate than you. Share your hearts and homes with them or have food delivered to them anonymously. If you do not know anyone in need then ask God to place that person in your path so you can bless them. You can also contact your local church as they have knowledge of people in need.

Do you have something to give?

Love Lee ♥

Recently I was the recipient of a gift given in private. I have no idea where it came from or who gave it but I am very grateful to the giver and appreciated the gift very much! I pray God will bless that special person richly for giving as instructed in His word.

I Love to Hear Him Sing

Nov14

Music has always been a very important part of Richard’s and my life. In fact music served as the medium which brought us together. In high school Richard sang in the choir and played a French horn in the band. I will never forget the moment I realized just how gifted he was…

He was playing in a band concert one evening and invited me to go. He appeared on my front door step wearing a band uniform covered in medals; medals he had won in competitions. I have always loved a man in uniform but for that uniform to be covered in BLING!!! (Did I mention, I Love Bling ♥)

Richard has continued to exercise his passion for music by singing in the church choir and by singing solos when asked. But more important than how he sings, it is what he sings…

Richard’s passion for the Lord becomes evident with the release of the first note from his mouth. He sings of the God’s love, mercy, and grace with such conviction and emotion…

Today, I celebrate as I get to not only attend church and worship my risen Savior, I also get to witness my precious husband sing joyfully to the Lord and worship our Savior in song.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalms 33:1

We would love for you to join us for worship at First Baptist Church Brazoria in Brazoria, TX. at 10:45 AM

Love Lee ♥

Walking With a Friend

Nov13

There is nothing more relaxing than a casual stroll with a close friend. To be surrounded by nature while engaged in conversation with a friend is a combination you just can’t beat!

Over the years I have walked along side many friends but there is one friend I cherish above all others. He listens intently, speaks gently, and cares tremendously! He does not pass judgement on me but listens and offers alternate solutions to my problems. He walks at a pace I can tolerate without pushing me.

My friend has been there for me through all of my life’s ups and downs. He celebrates with me when I am happy, cries with me when I am sad, and comforts me when I hurt. He says He will never leave me or forsake me! Through thick and thin he is right there.

His name is Jesus…

I do not take a step without Him!

I am reminded of the song below. I can’t imagine taking a step without Jesus! I no longer live in fear…If I step wrong He is there to catch me and set me up right.

Every Step I Take

Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na

Every move I make I make in you
You make me move, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you
Every step I take I take in you
You are my way, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you
Singin’

(chorus)

Every move I make I make in you
You make me move, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you
Every step I take I take in you
You are my way, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you

Waves of mercy waves of grace
Everywhere I look I see your face
Your love has captured me
Oh my God this love how can it be
Singin’

(chorus)

Every move I make I make in you
You make me move, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you
Every step I take I take in you
You are my way, Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in you

Waves of mercy waves of grace
Everywhere I look I see your face
Your love has captured me
Oh my God this love how can it be
Singin’

(chorus)