The Lily Letters

Before TEDtalks, there were sermons. You can always tell when a message has a shot at being excellent: The speaker doesn't need notes because they know the topic through and through and can speak extemporaneously. There are a handful of sermons like these that I have witnessed and remember as being like a home run with the bases loaded, where I simply had to listen and watch in awe with be occasional ringing "Amen!" on the lips of my heart. These messages standout in terms of craft, poignancy, and conviction, and often I am making a life change as a result of them as the Holy Spirit courses through. Today, I wanted to share one of them with you. Jenn Wilkins is like you and me. She is smart, she is funny, she is pragmatic. And, best of all, she wants to change the world for the better in the name of Jesus. We all want this, but she tells us how to achieve it. Wilkins' passion is Bible literacy, and this sermon is a masterclass in why it's important for you, me, an...

If you have been around the Christian faith very much, you have likely heard of a guy named Paul and maybe even his conversion story, but to recap…  Saul (also called Paul, but that is another story), was a guy who was at the top of his game studying Jewish Law and the Torah, determined to root out all those pesky Jesus followers that were causing such a ruckus (Acts 8:1-3). Saul was en route to Damascus with the sole purpose of arresting those that “belonged to the Way” (Acts 9:1-2), when he had a radical encounter with Jesus that quite literally caused a complete 180° in Saul’s life. (Acts 9:3-19). Saul, the same guy that was actively and aggressively persecuting Jesus’s followers just days before, “immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues” (Acts 9:20).  I can understand why the disciples were hesitant to trust this guy! But I can also sympathize with Saul in why he would desperately want to associate with fellow believers. I would imagine Saul felt lonely and m...

READ: 2 Corinthians 3 Paul begins this section of his epistle saying that letters of recommendation were part of verifying someone's work in ministry, and viable and important, but the Corinthians had a greater authentication: seeing and experiencing Paul's teaching and service unto themselves which other churches had not. Paul wrote commendation letters when he sent missionaries out to churches, but, knowing the Corinthians himself, he need not do such for himself when he sends out his very instructions via this letter. Paul writes to the Corinthian church that his own spiritual credentials aren't written on a piece of paper with ink nor on tablets carved into stone, but on the "tablet of the heart" in each of the Corinthian Christians themselves, who he had ministered to in person. His reference to tablets of the heart are a direct reference to Proverbs 7:3, which reads, "Bind [my instruction] on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart" an...

In celebration of our Wear the Word Wednesday verse,  Isaiah 43:2, we would love for you to read more about this verse and participate in our devotional! There is a great Isaiah 43 Spotify playlist to listen to as you read through this devotional, or just to worship! You can click this LINK to open the playlist. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” -Isaiah 43:2 First off, lets talk about what's going on in this verse: In this verse, God is telling the Jewish people that He will be with them in their most troubling times, supporting them through them, giving them the strength to move beyond them and delivering them out of danger without harm. The Jewish people were in captivity in Babylon. They faced many afflictions and were persecuted by men, represented by the waters, rivers, and fire. Some of the Jewis...

I don’t know about you, but that pandemic-that-shall-not-be-named has really taken a hold on my life more than I thought it would. We all know what happened to that whole idea of two weeks to slow the spread right? I found it so difficult to find comfort with everything that was going on in the world and directly in my community. I was STRESSED to say the least. I missed my students, I missed my friends, I missed my family, and I missed life as I used to know it - pre-panini. Yup, I named this pandemic so many things to help me cope and panini is probably my favorite. When I get so overwhelmed and stressed I usually go to my sweet pup, Kovu, or I lean on my “people” to help me get through it first. Yes I love my sweet Kovu and yes the community of people I have surrounded myself with is a supportive and loving one but I wasn’t seeking Him to help me get through it. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled...

We need sisterhood now more than ever in a semester that looks different and can be very isolating. You deserve this reminder: You have value in this organization and the value you give to this organization is equal if not more! Dr. Christina Watlington, a licensed clinical psychologist, points out the benefits of sisterhood in this article. She defines sisterhood as, “ an emotional bond between women, not always related by blood. In a sisterhood, female friends tell the truth, honor each other, and love each other like sisters. And when you have this type of bond, there are a countless number of benefits.” She lists several of those benefits: “Sisterhood can have a calming effect. Female bonding helps to manage stress.” “A sisterhood helps us to live better. Studies have found that as women age, we are less likely to develop physical impairments and more likely to lead a joyful life when we have lots of friends.” “Sisterhood cures loneliness. Loneliness can increase blood pressure, s...

Sigma Alpha Omega as a sisterhood is unique from other sisterhoods in that it transcends wordly relationships.  We (alumnae, honorary, active, associate, inactive) sisters are connected to one another beyond time and space and our finite brainpower - we’re connected through Jesus!   I also think it is fitting that we are a group of women, and women are discovering our strength and power in today’s sociopolitical climate like no other generation before us.   Rather significantly, a phrase that has become a sort of anthem for women today is: “empowered women empower women.”  In order to make the most of our position as an organization of Christian women leaders, the National Board of Trustees began its February business meeting in corporate prayer with one another.  The trustees were encouraged to pray over one fellow board member, one sister of SAO (whether they be alumnae, active, or other), and one woman that may not be known to the group (even if...