As I've said in other places, I try to follow Proverbs 3:16 in both my professional and personal life.  Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.  Following such a noble intent would surely protect me from problems, right? So wrong! Recession, illnesses, flight delays - all affect everyone; Not even I am exempt.

Just as the rest of the world is being affected by financial woes and economic down turns, so are we who work for the Lord.  With my schedule near full, I twittered about, thinking all was well in my world - that is until calls started coming in with the message, "With the economy being such as it is, I'm afraid we are having to cancel our event."  Well, maybe two calls anyway.  I merely resolved to do the best I could with the events that were still scheduled.  Surely the Lord wanted me to bring Christian humor to this dismal world.

As I prepared for the Feb. 7th event - a Valentine banquet in Tuscaloosa for the Emanuel Baptist Church, that familiar tickle in the throat began.  Then the coughing set in.  Not to be deterred, my husband and I planned to put on our Valentine attire and celebrate the holiday with others attending the banquet.  Then the event planner called. "I did tell you the event will be held in a barn and the dress is dressy denim, didn't I?"  Having some reservations about speaking in a barn and waning in my confidence about what dressy denim is, we began our journey with plenty of cough syrup in my system.  We were pleasantly surprised to find the barn nothing short of elegant.  No animal had ever set foot in it; it had been built just for such events as this one.  Although interrupted a few times with coughing spasms, I, with the Lord's help, was able to bring inspiration and laughter to the occasion.

On to Illness - Prattville FBC Event at Shocco Springs

Surely a little cough was all that would beset my spring events - wrong again.  For months I had anticipated being the keynote speaker for the "Women's Winter Retreat" for FBC Prattville.  I spent more that a few hours preparing for the given theme - "Show Me Your Glory."  A main thought that permeated  my preperations and sessions was "It's not about me or us; it's about Him."  Well darling, that was put to the test.  The night before the big event, the worst virus of my life attacked; vomitting and diarrhea were my constant companions.  Now how can you not think about ME instead of HIM in a state such as that?

Not to be deterred, I pulled myself out of bed knowing I had to get better (I couldn't get worse, it seemed), and after three tries, I finally showered and dressed.  My sweet husband doubted I was in condition to speak, but seeing my determination, he drove me to Talladega to Shocco Springs, unloaded my "stuff" and prayed for me.  I prayed too.  "Lord, if you want me to do this, you are going to have to  do a miracle, put strength in my spaghetti knees, and help the Emetrol and Imodium to do their job."  He answered that prayer and His joy prevailed.

Planes and Problems Cause Me to Cancel an Event

Realizing my schedule was tight, I sent ahead my books and warned the event planner for the WINGS Candlelight Dinner at Brasher's Chapel Church that if I were to be late for the meal, I would definitely be there in time to speak.  But you know what the say about the best laid plans of mice and men ---.

Seated on the plane in Columbia, Missouri, I relaxed believing I was going to make the event with time to spare.  Then the pilot announced, "We have a problem with one of the engines.  I am not comfortable taking off until a trained mechanic flies in to check it out."  If he wasn't comfortable with it, I surely wasn't.  After an hour or so and still no mechanic at work, I realized I would miss my connection, therefore, ending my chances of making the event at all.  I did what I could; I called a fellow speaker and asked her to substitute for me.  Apparently God wanted her message presented instead of my humor.

In spite of maladies which can beset us all, I have a peace.  When I truly give myself and all I do to the Lord, I am confident all will work for His good.  It has and it still does.