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Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Mama’s K.I.S.S. #86: Secret Sisters/Brothers with the Elderly

Posted on April 17, 2026

As you know, if you’ve been reading, for quite some time, I’ve occasionally been running little installments called “Mama’s K.I.S.S.” I know that lots of readers could give many more and far more creative ideas than I can offer, but these installments are just a few tried and true and mostly old-fashioned ideas for putting service hearts in our kids.  This is number 86 of a list of one hundred ways we train our kids to serve. K.I.S.S. is an acronym for “Kids In Service Suggestions”.

This one’s great to do anytime of year, but summertime is prime when the kids are out of school.

Pass out a questionnaire to your elderly members. Ask them about their favorites: home items, snacks, scents, office supplies, shopping venues, colors and hobbies Make sure you ask about birthday and anniversary dates.

Then distribute the completed questionnaires to your young people. (Teens love to do this!) Young people need structure, so assign specifically here. Make sure the young partner is anonymously remembering his/her older “partner” with a card or small gift at least every two weeks. You will need to take five minutes of class time or family Bible time each week to be sure this is getting done. (It’s somewhat easier if you are doing this with your own children, of course, but the “peripheral” kids in the youth group may be the most blessed in the gifting.) Our kids live in a world of largely irresponsible youth, so you will need to help and bolster, at least at first. Sometimes each child will need to take more than one adult. Sometimes each adult will have multiple young people who are “gifting” them. Surpluses on both sides are fine; even great. This is one secret gifting program, though, that is not reciprocal. Those who receive the little gifts are exclusively the elderly.

At the end of the gifting period–perhaps after about three months, plan a meal for the kids to reveal their identities to the elderly partners. This time the gift will be signed and opened in front of the young gift-giver. This day is the most fun of all. There’s lots of encouragement to go around on both sides and, just like that, the congregation becomes less age-segregated and closer.

I’m saying today….do this one! Empathy for the age-related challenges that elderly people face is largely missing in the teens of our world.  Christianity calls our teens to be holy/set apart in the way they view elderly people, particularly their brothers and sisters in Christ.

You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord (Lev.19:32).

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5)

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Do you want to meet me at the throne?

Posted on April 13, 2026

I recently found myself in a small crisis. I was hundreds of miles from home. My husband, who is my sounding board and general super-hero was also far from home in yet another state. I’d had multiple flight delays and got to my speaking destination far later than planned–in fact, just a few hours prior to the scheduled ladies event. I was beginning what would turn into a full-blown upper respiratory infection. I was tired. But my immediate problem was that my checked bag–my only bag–had not arrived on my flight. I was to speak in a very few hours, with no fresh clothing. I had on cargo pants, a hoodie, and Birkenstock sandals. That was all I had. Add to that, that I was worse for the wear after hours upon hours in Delta airport terminals.

I tried sleeping in this hotel, but that was mostly a futile exercise. So, on my  laptop, in the wee hours, a message from a dear sister popped up in the corner…something like “Are you okay?”

I responded that I’d had better nights and told her a bit about my current situation. In the way that only someone who has spoken for a bunch of ladies days could relate, she said “Oh no!”

And then, in a way that only this dear sister says to me (and has often said to me, over far more serious situations than being somewhere without the right clothes), she said “Do you want to meet me at the throne right now?”

“Yes!” My answer is always “yes”. And it is the sweetest meeting. By faith we know where we are both going at that very moment with our petition. By faith we know Who our advocate there is, for all of our needs. By faith we know that our Father is hearing and giving His best for His children. And by faith we know that we never are in a time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), but what He gives the best resolve, even if it is not the answer we thought we needed. We go together to the God of more.

Let me say this with profound gratitude…If you have just one friend who, in the dark hours, says “Will you meet me at the throne?” then you are blessed beyond measure.

My clothes and make-up came a few minutes before I had to speak. I was so very thankful. But not nearly as thankful for their arrival as I was/am for the sister who says “Will you meet me at the throne?”

 

 

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

If you’ve never done Digging Deep…

Posted on April 11, 2026

Here’s one more peek at the study that will begin in September. If you’re reading and you’ve never done Digging Deep, I challenge you to just complete the activity below. Then you will have a taste of the flavor of Digging Deep. It’s a year of study chock-full of these kinds of vessels full of (It’s not spoon-fed, for sure) opportunities to grow your faith. We invite you to come along for a great study. beginning this September 1st. Mark your calendar and later, mark down some spiritual blessings that will surely occur if you’re in the Word. Here’s a sample:

The book of Esther!  This is the story of what happened to the people (the big majority) left in exile as the constituency under Zerubbabel went back to rebuild Jerusalem under the generous hand of Persian governor, Cyrus. The book of Esther is remarkable. It’s mind-blowing to see His mercy win a people that has mostly forgotten him. It’s important that we read it, at this juncture, to see the mercy that was operating, not by any miraculous show-stopping events, but by His behind-the scenes providence. It is an epic account of providence. See if you can find the following “co-incidental” circumstances that turn out  to be right on target as God is calling to His people who are far away from the homeland of Jerusalem. Cite the verses.

The party given by Xerxes:

The dethroning of Vashti:

Of all the women, the advancement of Esther:

The decree of Haman:

The placement and appeal of Mordecai:

The building of a gallows:

The behavior of Haman at the banquet:

Come on! We’d love to be in His Word with you!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Lads. My Heart is Full.

Posted on April 6, 2026


My heart is so full. Knowing the preparation that goes behind the thousands of children who participated in scores of events prior to and at the Lads convention, I’m overcome with gratitude for what parents and grandparents are contributing right now to the church in the latter half of the 21st century. Unless the trumpet blows beforehand, some of the kids who were shining this weekend will still be working and shining for him as the wise and elderly in the body, even as the calendar page is turned to the 22nd century. Faith works…and the faith that worked for the events of this last weekend will still be working for generations. My heart is full for the legacy so many are working to leave. 

I will be gone to the brighter side in a few years. But I am praying those living room speech practices, the big allotments of time we spent in reviewing and repeating Bible bowl answers with four of our grandkids, the way Colleyanna achieved getting the rhythm and beat of 4:4 song leading, the verse that resonated in our hearts over and over as Eliza rehearsed it: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!” (James 4:8)—-I am praying that these little things will grow like the mustard seed, into glory from their lives to their Lord. I am praying that the 100 verses memorized by five of my children this year will grow into bigger and bigger faith, because I trust him when he said “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17)

(l-r) Colleyanna, Lily, Ezra, Ellis, Maggie and Eliza Jane

I trust him! Ellis’s speech was about his favorite thing…nutcrackers. He explained how some nutcrackers are fake. They cannot “really quack de nuts.” He said it’s the same way with Christians. Some are fake and some are real. Then he said that he wants to be like Daniel, who was the real thing. He wanted to follow God even when it was hard. How I am trusting God, that as their parents pour time and the Word into the children, who are my six grandchildren, that the product will be a faith that works! My deepest desire in this life is to be with all of them in the next.

At the Nashville convention alone this year there were 10,000 participants! Ten-thousand PARTICIPANTS, excluding the non-participating people who were attendees. Although, I cannot bear to think about one of these 10,000 being lost, I know the devil is both busy and crafty. He desperately wants to break the chain of faith in your family. But the way that he responds to our drawing near to God is by fleeing. Did you get that? As Eliza’s verse says, the devil flees when we draw near to God! When you pull your children into the Word, you put the devil on the run. How can we be sparse in our time in the Word while we generously give it to soccer, baseball, school work and entertainment? When we draw near to the things of this world while excluding the eternal things, the devil loves it. He doesn’t have to flee. He just presents himself and entices our children through the unimportant things we love. He presents secularism in the schoolwork. He presents worldliness in the entertainment and he presents misplaced priorities in the sports…IF we are doing these things to the exclusion of getting our kids in the Word! 

So gratitude from a deep place in our hearts today for the army of parents and grandparents, mentors and ministers who spent massive amounts of time preparing kids for the spiritual stuff that makes life worth living and draws them near to God. They can’t all yet understand the power that is working in them, but they will know, one day soon, that it is the power of an  unyielding faith that will lead them over Jordan and safely to the throne. I’ll be waiting with expectation for them!

Ezra and our brother, Roy Johnson

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

LADS!…There’s a lot of excitement at the Colley House!

Posted on April 2, 2026

I love this pic. The dedicated planning of working  men in the background. for the little people who, yet unaware of the huge benefits, are just loving the moment! This one is Roy Johnson, Glenn Colley and Colleyanna at a Lads recognition event at FHU. 

A nine-year-old, who spent the night at Mammy’s last night, just walked into my bedroom. A huge teddy bear in one hand, she came straight around to my side of the bed and proclaimed today’s exciting scheduled event. “Lads to Leaders! Today is the day!”

We’re going to the Nashville Lads to Leaders convention today. This year marks 33 years that our family has participated in this event. And this weekend, five of our six grandchildren (Lily, the exception, will be participating from the audience, you can be sure…) are excited about verses memorized, speeches to give, knowledge gained from the book of James, songs to lead, art to display, and so much more. 

Hannah (circa 1996)

Thirty-three years ago tomorrow, we pulled up in front of the Presidential lobby and hurriedly got that little bow-tie on Caleb and ran up those steps to enter the maze we’ve chaotically navigated all these years since, to get them to events—but really, with the ultimate goal of getting them to heaven. Along the way, we have given out over a thousand easter goody bags to children in our congregation, lots of trophies during my “lads ‘Vanna White'” days on the stage in my red dress, and  thousands of “great job!” hugs. It’s now a third generation tradition that we hope to extend for lots more years. But it is more….

Hannah’s son, Ezra, at the 2024 Newcomer’s breakfast, Nashville

Lads to Leaders is the arena of the gentlest and friendliest competitions, the most rewarding self-challenges for kids, the most amazing corp of volunteers, and the most direct link to heaven of any annual “tournament” in which your kids will participate. 

Ezra (Circa 2020)

This year’s theme “Faith Works” is a powerful herald, both practically and doctrinally, and I’ve heard it already at least a hundred times in preparation (and I’m just the Mammy!”). I know a four-old who memorized most of the book of James pretty perfectly this year. I know kids who have researched the fallacies cemented into the religious world by Martin Luther and are prepared to debate the doctrine of “faith only.” I know some funny puppeteers who could easily and biblically teach a children’s class about the importance of putting our actions behind our words (being doers of the word and not hearers only).

Thanks to all those who work hard all year to make it happen. Most of all, thanks to parents who start hearing the plans for next year’s speeches and projects and new areas of participation, in the car on the way home from whichever convention has just concluded. I met people last week in Arizona who were getting ready for the one in Las Vegas. There are people I love who will be in Atlanta this weekend and others who are traveling already to Orlando. And I know people in India who have solidified faith through the program. I’m praying for safe travels for all the families who have excited kids in the back seat. I’m praying for a big win for every child who participates– in the context of this truth: “True success is living our lives and going to heaven!” 

You can read more about the program (and if you’ve never participated) you should read more at https://www.lads2leaders.com/.

Maggie Colley, in Orlando. (circa 2022)

Let me know if I can help you make Lads a part of your kids’ spiritual regime. It’s a parental tool, for sure, but one that has blessed our family, for three generations now, in a myriad of important ways.

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Best Post Yet of 2026!

Posted on April 1, 2026

This has got to be the best Digging Deep story of 2026! It’s actually not just a Digging Deep story, but it’s a great and praiseworthy example of the providence of our God of More! 

First let me show you the hyssop soap made by the group in DeSoto, Missouri.  Samantha Carlson put this group together. (Her whole life and marriage to Adam is a manifestation of the love of the same great Provider!) Samantha sent me these sweet pictures of the final hyssop product and she mentioned that the sister who had done the lettering and labeling was just baptized in January. 

When I asked Samantha if I could share that good news with you, she gave me a little more of the back story and I could not love it more! 

Victoria and Tim were on their way to worship. They were ready to “get into a church” and get involved. They ended up getting turned around, directionally, and ended up at the church building, where my sweet sister, Samantha, and her husband, Adam worship. (And they really DID get turned around in the greatest way!) They decided just to go on in and worship there, instead, since they were running behind. They later told Samantha that they were looking for a place that just taught the Bible. Victoria also said that they were ready to be involved and active somewhere. Victoria quickly began attending that local Digging Deep group and continued studying, along with her husband, with Adam and Samantha. When people knock, the door is opened (Matthew 7:7). Victoria, the soap “labeler” for month 6 of The God of More was baptized into Christ in January. She and her husband never made it to their intended destination that Sunday morning. But they will, with His help, make it to the eternal one for which they were searching. Jehovah is the God of More. 

We made little bottles and bars of hyssop soap, while God was taking care of the real hyssop cleansing. So profoundly thankful  for the purging with hyssop in all our lives! 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness;

that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51