Did that just happen?

“Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 HCSB

 

“Mom!” My daughter exclaimed the moment I answered her call. “Did you know they just said yours and dad’s name on national television, and they mentioned your book.” My hand flew to my mouth as it dropped to the floor in astonishment. Now that does not happen to me everyday of the week, (actually only once or twice have our names been mentioned on TV, and that is only because of our son, Landry Jones. He was quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and now plays behind Ben Rothlisberger on the Pittsburgh Steelers.) Landry’s name gets brought up quite a bit because of his athletic talent and passing abilities, but though I birthed him and Kevin and I raised him, our names are very rarely mentioned. So for this random shout out on network TV, well that was quite shocking. It shocked my daughter and her family, it shocked me and Kevin, and it shocked the people in our hometown of Artesia, New Mexico because they were part of the shout out also.

My daughter-in-law told me Landry talked about the book launch of “Through Their Eyes” in his pregame interview. I didn’t think much of it because I truly did not think it would be a talking point for Jim Nantz and Phil Simms as they were announcing the Steelers and Patriots game. After the game Landry explained to Kevin how that all came to be. Phil Simms was interviewing Landry on Saturday because Landry was quarterbacking the Steelers for this game. Phil knew Kevin and I were most always at Landry’s games, so he asked about us and where we might be sitting. Landry saw the opportunity and took it. He told Phil Simms that Kevin and I had made prior commitments and we would be talking in churches and in homes about my first book. And for some reason Phil Simms ran with that.

I am so very thankful for the national press coverage.

Now several days removed, I have had time to reflect and recover from the shock of hearing my name on national TV. As I read my Bible this morning, once again God impressed upon me that He is in total control of all world events, and not only world events, but national events, and not only national events, but personal events. God controls all things. As I studied on, I couldn’t help but acknowledge, it wasn’t randomness that Phil Simms asked about us. It may have seemed like it at the time, but if I really believe God controls everything, then I have to believe it was God who put it in Phil Simms mind to ask Landry this question at this time.

Thank you God for this national press coverage.

Why did God orchestrate all this? Is the book “Through Their Eyes” going to be the best read of all time? No! And I say that with all humility. People I am 55 years old. This is my first book. It has been a long time since I have taken any type of grammar or writing course. Many principles have changed throughout all those years. I do not have a doctorate in Theology. I am not a graduate of biblical studies, but what I do have is a deep seeded desire to know the One who created me, and to worship the One who died for me. And that is what this book is. It is my form of worship to my Creator and to my Savior.

During the writing of this book, God activated in me a passion to delve deeply into scripture and write out all that He revels to me. All things begin with God and all things end with God. Jesus Christ is the center of it all. It is God who activates gifts, and it is God who activates conversations. It is God who activitated this interview with Landry which resulted in the book being mentioned on TV. God did this because He loves me, and what is important to me is important to Him. “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9 NIV.

That shout out on Sunday was just a shout out from God to me, “I love you. Here is some free press.”

That’s what God does. In big ways and small ways, in personal ways and in national ways, God opens up the heavens and tells us He loves us. If we don’t hear it or see it, it because we are the ones with deaf ears and blind eyes. God mentioned “Through Their Eyes” because it was a personal love note to me.

The book is a 40 day journey through that first Christmas over two thousand years ago. Forty is a significant number to me. In the Bible the number 40 represents trials, testing, tributlation, judgement, discipline and temptation. Another synonym for tempted is proofed. God helped me see all those days of writing proofed my faith. Those days of writing “Through Their Eyes” prepared me to give my answer to anyone who asks me why I hope in the Lord Jesus Christ as 1Peter 3:15 tells us. I do place my hope in Jesus in any and all events of my life because through those 40 days of writing God showed me my story is written in their stories, so my answers can be found in their answers. I saw Christmas with fresh anticipation because God showed me that first Christmas “Through Their Eyes.” Gabriel, Zachariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, and others participated in that first Christmas experience when heaven touched earth, and the King of Glory wrapped himself in human flesh to walk the dusty streets of earth. These people became my family. I invited them into my home. I wanted to hear what it was like when the Angel announced, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” I wanted to know what it was like as the Glory of the Lord shone all around. So, I wrote.

As I wrote God changed me. He changed my life. He changed my perception of events and trials I was walking through. He took a faith that was once shakey and He placed it on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. God activated and caused “Through Their Eyes” to be mentioned on national TV. I can only assume it is because He will send this book into the hands of another person who needs to learn the lessons He taught me as I wrote. That is what God does with the gifts He distributes into the body of Christ. God activates these gifts and uses them to edify and build up His church. That is my prayer. I pray God will send this book into the hands of someone that needs to read these lessons. “Through Their Eyes” is actually 40 days of lessons that I needed to learn from God. These lessons changed my life and I pray they change yours.

You can now order the book off Amazon.

Here is the link

https://www.amazon.com/Through-Their-Eyes-Celebrating-Christmas/dp/1945620099/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1477499522&sr=8-11&keywords=through+their+eyes+book

You can also purchase the book through the online store at iamnot4gotten.org.

Here is that link:

https://www.iamnot4gotten.org/store.html

All proceeds go to IAMnot4gotten Ministries.