Mama Always ~ L.A. Brown, Author

Tonight was a tough night for me. Not because something bad happened, but actually, something good happened. Our Worship Pastor, Marty, encouraged us to (paraphrasing here) feel our lyrics. We can sing and mimic all we want, but to engage those who are listening, we need to allow the lyrics to seep into us and pull out our story. Paraphrasing here, mind you. Then we went back over a song that we're singing on Sunday: *My Story by Big Daddy Weave. What happened next is nothing short of extraordinary, at least to me...because I allowed the words to be my  story, and it was tough. In order for you to understand what I'm saying, I'm going to incorporate the words of the song along with my testimony. So if the members of Big Daddy Weave are reading...thank you for sharing your story so I can share mine. If I told you my story You would hear Hope that wouldn't let go In January, it was thirty three years since my life changed. No, there was no traffic accident that ma...

Good morning, Everyone! Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. I know that I'm slow in putting new material out, I apologise for that, but I'm excited about an upcoming project. I've teamed with Kay Ganley, author of Lost: It Begins to co-author a new project tentatively called Evelyn.  This book will be one that is unique in its structure. It is a group-authored book, sort of like a group-funding effort, and a work of fiction based on reality. Eleven other people have joined us in creating back stories which will be woven throughout the book. It is about one woman's life of domestic abuse (Evelyn's), and how friends from all over the world work to remove her from the situation. All of the stories are based on real-life experiences, including Evelyn's, and there are a couple of truly fictional characters in there, but back stories have been changed so that the author cannot be recognized. Because of the volatile nature of the stories, these men and wom...

In January, it will be thirty years since my life changed. No, there was no traffic accident that marred me for life; no personal disaster such as a crippling disease; no death of a parent or loved one that so impacted me; no crime committed against me. No, a baby was born. Not your ordinary baby, but one who had gained my love and attention during the forty weeks while she was formed. During that forty weeks, I was able, through the miracle of technology, to hear her heartbeat and see her suck her thumb. My husband and I witnessed a miracle that we never thought would happen. On January 15, 1983, at 11:45 p.m., Andrea Michelle Lane was born. What we thought was a miracle quickly turned into the biggest challenge of my life and forever altered any dreams that I had for her. She was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and sixteen hours later, the genetic markers were identified and we were hit with the confirmation. The pediatrician who was on duty came in and calmly and clinically proclaimed...

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: ' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' ( Matthew 22:36-39 ).  Throughout my Christian life I have read this verse over and over again. I have even striven to do what it commands, but, alas! too many times I fall so short of what I am supposed to do. Some time ago, while I was yet in my infancy in Christ, I had the opportunity to help someone in need and failed in that task. To this day, that woman's eyes haunt me and I will never forget the sorrow I felt at letting God down. I know that He has long since forgiven me and forgotten this lack of action, as they say, "as far as the east is from the west", but it will forever be a reminder to me as to what should have been the first of many times that I have helped when help was nee...