We are the Light of the World

It is so refreshing to be in the presence of positive, optimistic and encouraging women. Many of my dear “sisters” from our 2017 Fall ACTS Retreat met on Friday for our one-year reunion. Just being around those precious women not only on Friday but throughout the year, energizes me. Their spirit of encouragement is contagious. I can't be down in their presence because they are such bright lights. Their “glow” rubs off on everyone they touch. They have their own stories of tough times, but they have found the “Light of Christ” that has turned their darkness to light. And, when there is someone who is facing a challenge of some sort, they are quick to offer their love, care, support, and prayer.

Why is that? What do these women have that others don’t? It has a lot to do with how rich they are in their faith, love, and commitment to God, embracing His character and striving to follow His lead -- in word and deed. We exposed “our light” Friday night, not only with our light sticks, but we went to one of our ACTS sister’s home to bring light and love to her daughter who is battling leukemia. This mama and her daughter are lights in their own right as they daily share about their relentless faith on social media in the midst of challenging times. We pray for a miracle for this precious young woman, while in practical and tangible ways, these wonderful ACTS women have served this family. On Friday night, we reminded them of God’s light in the midst of the darkness. We sang our “retreat” song, Kari Jobe’s “We Are the Light of the World” to Morgan and we saw her sweet face “light up” with God’s light.

We have ALL been called to be "Light" bearers. If our lights are shining out from within, we can be THE LIGHTS that brighten our world. On the other hand, if our lights are dim, even out, not only will we not brighten the corners where we are, but we may very well be the circuit breaker switch that darkens the whole room AND house. How does that happen? When we go the way of those who are bitter, angry, cynical, fearful, and anxious, then darkness enters our lives. We have a choice -- to stay there or turn on the light because when light stands next to darkness, LIGHT will always win.

Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” John 8:12. And, here's the real kicker.....Jesus said to us "YOU are the light of the world" Matthew 5:14. WOW!! How's that for a standard to live up to? It sure puts the onus on us to check out our wattage and our light output, doesn't it?

If you're reading this and think "She's sure not talking about me!" Then, I urge you to get connected to the “Light Source”, the Lord Jesus Christ AND get connected to other “light” bearers so that you become THAT "bright light" to those around you. They need YOUR light to shine brightly! Before long, you’ll hear others say to you “You light up my life!”

We Stood on Holy Ground

Having spent the last 4 days at Camp Copass in Denton, TX with 79 beautiful “sisters in Christ” and experiencing God's peace in this away-from-it-all location, was what God ordered for us. I knew we were on HOLY GROUND when we arrived at the campus and this sign welcomed us: SHOW ME YOUR WAYS O LORD, Psalm 25:4. That is why we went there in the first place.

My word for today is: Holy Ground -- sacred grounds or areas; it is not necessarily that the ground, itself, is holy, rather, it is the presence of the Holy God that makes it holy.

That is why we went to Camp Copass – to be in the presence of our Holy God and come to know His ways even more. Finding ourselves in many occasions to see AND hear God’s ways enveloped us in His tangible love through “sisterhood”.

We often sign our emails or other notes as YSIC. One of the retreatants asked "What does YSIC mean?" It means "Your Sister in Christ". After all we are God's daughters and when His daughters get together, we are Sisters in Christ. We were single and married, young mothers and more mature mothers -- all living with daily opportunities to face conflict AND noise, who needed a break and refreshing, -- from careers, family dynamics, attending school, raising children, health, relational, and financial challenges, etc. And, in this place of quiet and stillness, we had the incredible opportunity to refresh, restore, and rejuvenate.

Serving as a one of the 39 team members and preparing for this retreat meant weekly meetings for 3-1/2 months , plus much study and prayer, and diligence to give those 40 retreatants a HOLY GROUND experience that had the potential of tremendously impacting their lives. Every time we met, we knew we were on HOLY GROUND, as we fellowshipped, prayed for each other and for the retreatants. Our Mission was accomplished – based on the many testimonies of those precious women who left this weekend transformed.

Here’s the best part of the retreat. We disconnected from the busy, fast-paced, hustle and bustle of everyday life. What does retreat mean? With an army, it means to withdraw from enemy forces, and maybe that army looks like the forces the enemy of our soul uses when we’re stressed, overloaded, under-appreciated, and facing fears and challenges. For us, “retreat” is better defined as withdrawing from the routines of life to go to a place of refreshment and revitalization, being able to rekindle and deepen our relationship with God. We get to leave behind usual distractions we all face, to have our faith deepened. as we look inward to the HOLY GROUNDS of God in our lives.

Before I left this HOLY GROUND yesterday morning, I took the time to drive around the campus and capture photos of this camp’s “rules for success”, God’s tools from His toolbox (His Word) and His faithful promises to us. Wherever we are – not just at a camp where the signs appear, but anywhere we will be standing on HOLY GROUND – because He is Emmanuel – God with us – and where He is, holy. Our homes, our places of work, our children’s school, the grocery store and the gas station. All are places where the Spirit of God is, because we show up at all those places – and, then, SO DOES HE! In our hearts and minds, we can "check-out" of the routine and experience HOLY GROUNDS -- any time and in any place. He'll meet us there. I KNOW! I'm there right now!

A Love-Fest Day With Jesus

My word for today is "Love-Fest" -- when two or more people indulge in expressing their love for each other in such a way that it never ends. It is the ultimate expression of deep, true love and respect for each other, usually manifested by an outburst of love expressions that make all involved feel warm, acknowledged and cared for.

Last Saturday, precious women from my church headed to Bowie, TX for a one day “get-away-with-God” retreat before we serve 40 women at our ACTS Retreat, March 15-18 and it turned out more glorious than could have been expected. There’s just something about women getting together for time away with God that sets the mood to be vulnerable and open to receive an outpouring of His love to His girls. The wonderful presenters of the retreat called the day "A LOVE-FEST Day With Jesus". Indeed, the definition above was proven to be true! Notice our "doo-rags"? We were heart-cleaning!

No wonder those gals in the Bible wanted to hang out with Jesus. He always seemed to have a little band of women with Him, and He embraced it. In so many places in this world, women are marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used Jesus' example of how He loved and respected us. He "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there were women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 disciples as He ministered all around Galilee. Those women came from all walks of life, they were single, married, and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ. He loved them, taught them and could have cared less about what the pious religious folk thought.

The women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith that He would rise as He promised. That flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded.

That's the way we felt, when, after a sweet time of unbridled openness to each other in small groups, we resumed altogether with candid moments of sharing, giving, encouraging and building each other up in the awareness of God's love for us.

Each of us felt that compassion and love from Jesus and we expressed our love back to him as we each wrote Him a love letter. We all poured our love out to Him -- He Who loves us unconditionally, without judgment or condemnation, and like the woman in the Bible who was caught in the act of adultery, He lovingly wraps His arms around us and says….”You can do better. Go sin no more.” No wonder our innermost love for Him poured out in our love letters.

I know it's absurd of me to think God ordered this LOVE-FEST day just for me, but I did. I like to think that I'm so special to Him, that He orders up special gifts and treats.....just for me. The Apostle John thought the same thing. Remember how he kept referring to himself as the "one that Jesus loved"? Those words are found six times in the Gospel of John. Sounds a little cocky, but, NO, he knew he was tight with his Master. Each and and every one of us can say that. "I am the one that Jesus loves," because He does. Today is another day when duty will call and this team will regroup and finish up our preparations for our upcoming big retreat and 80 women will come together for a weekend of encounters with Christ, but for this day, there was a special, loving, devoted group of servant-women that it was all about the "want to's," Our LOVE-FEST with Jesus will continue.

At the end of the retreat and we were saying our good-byes, I went to my car to load up to go home with my passengers and couldn’t find my keys. I realized, in my haste to get out of the down-pouring rain earlier in the morning, I must have dropped them on the floorboard when I was getting my umbrella. Fortunately, I carry AAA auto insurance and was able to call a locksmith. While waiting for him, I had one on one time with the hosts who, I learned that we have so much in common that pertains to our faith walk and we had mutual time of encouraging each other in the Lord. When I made it home, one of my gals that was a passenger going out called to check on me, and she, too, felt the same about the “interruption” as she had never been able to get to know her driver very well and she did on that trip home. Of course God would “work things for our good” because, after all, we had spent the day talking about His Son, writing love letters to His Son, and celebrating His goodness to us.

When I returned home and while I was basking in His love for me, I realized that daily, Jesus writes a love letters to me telling me “You’re my girl. I’m with you. I’m for you. I love you.” He gave us so many love letters in the Bible, and with each sunrise, each raindrop, each sweet smile and "I love you" from others to us, and even, each morning -- just waking up -- is His love letter to us. He says "I love you. I love you. I love you." When we make our Lord our highest priority, then EVERYDAY becomes a LOVE-FEST with Him.

Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes"

As if one Advent by Candlelight wasn't enough, I was thrilled to attend another last night at St. Bernard's Church. This night, I was able to sit back with dear friends from my Hyde Park community and my ACTS community to focus my attention, and really take in the beauty of this wonderful Season of Advent. Once again, the photos here describe the hospitality of the hostesses that make this night so warm and welcoming. The beautiful songs that were sung that celebrated this beautiful time and short reflection talks by several ladies caused us to hone into this most holy of times of the year. After all, there would be no Easter and Resurrection Sunday were it not for the birth of our Lord.

The talk giver, a renown author and speaker, Lisa Hendey, was eloquent and relevant as she spoke about Mary's "Yes" and our "Yes".

As I heard her speak, Mary's "yes", in a way, became my "yes". Mary’s “yes” changed her life. We all know that "yes" doesn't mean, "The End". It is, in most instances, the beginning of ginormous changes to our lives -- our schedules, our time, our energy (or the lack thereof), our thought processes and our commitment. I know my recent "Yes" to making a huge transition in my life, moving from Tulsa to Texas, holds many unknowns, plus life-altering times ahead, but I know when saying "Yes" to God, He is with me every step of the way.

But here's the deal about Mary's "Yes". Because of her “yes”, she became the mother of Jesus. Though her ordinary life was made sacred by way of an invitation that she affirmed, she was still like any mother. She was still needed by her baby boy in the middle of the night, chased the toddler Jesus with the hopes of a nap soon to come, (I've been there -- haven't you?) and found that her life was no longer hers, but everything about that precious baby consumed her, like our babies were to us. The difference is that her attention turned toward the child who was Jesus. The beloved song, "Mary Did You Know?" was sung last night, and it makes us wonder, if she had known what was up ahead for her and her baby boy, would she still have said "yes". In our lives, we don't know what lies ahead, but with our willingness to follow He Who loves us beyond description and has a Master Plan to work out in us, like Mary, we can resign our own thoughts and submit to God's perfect plan for us.

When we say “yes” to God, He is inviting us to do what is in our capacity to do. Otherwise, He wouldn't have asked. I've learned over and over...."Where He guides, He provides". But most importantly, He invites us to see our ordinary roles as sacred. The sacredness of dependence on God for His grace and mercy to be with us in times of decision making, having His wisdom to guide those He entrusts to us, daily being full of the Fruit of the Spirit as we assist in carving out our children's places in this world, as well as being a light to those God calls us to encourage and support around us.

Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes" -- I'm there -- How about you?

Renewed and Refreshed

Retreat -- To Refresh and Renew
Yesterday, I returned from a 4-day women’s retreat in Chouteau, OK. Being on the Leadership Team and preparing for this retreat meant intentional two-times-a-week meeting and much diligence, focus and preparation by our team to give these women an event that had the potential of tremendously impacting their lives.
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Here’s the best part of the retreat. We unplugged from the world. No watches or phones. No distractions. Just all on-purpose to disconnect from all the busy, fast-paced, hustle and bustle of everyday life. Young moms, single gals, and mature women like me…who came to get away from it all to be on retreat.

What does retreat mean? If we were talking about an army, it could mean to withdraw from enemy forces....throw in the towel, so to speak. Contrary to that definition, for us, it is better defined as withdrawing from the routines of life to refresh, revitalize, and deepen our relationship with each other AND God. It was just beautiful how we stopped focusing on what's outside, to focus on what.....rather, WHO is on the inside.

I felt so connected with God and my sisters. Though we were from many various cultures, seasons of life, and responsibilities, we had one major thing in common, we are ALL daughters of the Most High God and we yearn for more of Him. I'll just betcha' God enjoys retreats as much as we do, especially when the common language is LOVE and hearing “God is good -- all the time. All the time -- God is good.”

Though we went away, "retreat" doesn't have to mean leaving town or going to a quiet setting somewhere. We CAN find rest in our lives and homes ANYWHERE though “being in a quiet place” sounds impossible?

When I typed the words ‘refresh’ and renew’ into my computer's search engine, I got a wide range of results, from instructions on how to refresh my computer's websites, to Dr. Oz’s nutrition ideas, to advertisements for health spas, face cream, and exercise regimes, to air fresheners, and even to a conference.

Here's how we can refresh and renew anytime, anywhere. Isaiah 40:29-31 gives us the assurance that God is involved intimately with our lives. “He gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless. They that wait for the Lord shall RENEW their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” His strength is available to us when we need it, to renew and refresh us. Psalm 119:114 "YOU ARE MY place of quiet RETREAT"

Being on a retreat doesn’t necessarily imply that we leave town and go to a quiet, off-the-beaten path, retreat center. It can mean, right where we are – right now – in the middle of our hectic and frenzied day – we just need to pause to retreat with our Lord who renews, refreshes, restores and even rejuvenates us enough that we can walk and run with new strength and determination.

Being Perfectly Loved

Just look at these 64 radiant women, all aglow with God's PERFECT love shining through, after the most amazing 4 days of enrichment and basking in such epic and special times together. Sincerely, those 4 days were life-changing in so many ways. Our love for God, and His love for us, went to a another level as we praised and worshipped Him together.

One of the highlights of the retreat was hearing Msgr Dan Mueggenborg speak these words of Jesus "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48) Then he said, "There you go, someone else is expecting you to be perfect. Your parents, your husband, your children, your boss -- all expect you to be perfect, and if that isn't enough....NOW GOD!" To that, the chapel was filled with women bursting into laughter. He went on to describe how the world portrays beauty and perfectionism by the way we should look -- all polished, manicured, slim and trim, dressed to the T and carrying ourselves fully together and PERFECT.

But the fact is -- we are all less-than-perfect. Does God really expect us to be perfect as He is perfect? How is that possible? The God Who IS Love made us in His image. We were made to love as He loves. Colossians 2:10 says "And you are complete in Him (Christ)....." By that one word "complete", we're shown that we have in Christ whatever is required of us. 1 John 4:16 says "God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides him." We'll never, on our own, be perfect on this side of heaven, but as we live in Him, the PERFECT ONE, we have the ability to love as He loved. Perfection becomes an ongoing goal -- day-by-day, year-by-year. Not in the world's sense, but on our own journey to become perfected in love (God is love) and to grow in becoming more like Him -- the PERFECT ONE.

"Make me more like You, Jesus. Make me more like You. Give me a heart that's filled with love, and make me more like You."

Looking for Love in All the Right Places

Getting to celebrate life with my special loved ones and friends in Tulsa brings such joy to my heart. Here's what my World of Love's "right places" looks like:

I have precious friends in the community where I live. We laugh, celebrate life, many of us pray for each other and share meals with each other. Several of us are the face of Hyde Park and we represent our community to guests that stop by to visit us. Love in the right places!

My Life Group meets in my home every Tuesday. We share our triumphs and tests, we pray together, celebrate together and do life together. The latest triumph was the birth of this precious baby girl, Ragan Rainey. We prayed for her Mom & Dad to be blessed with her, and indeed they have been. Her two grandmothers attend my Life Group (yes, that's them having received their coronation bouquet) -- so of course, that little girl had no choice but to come into this world with God's blessings. Love in the right places!

I have the most wonderful "family of friends" at Church of the Madalene where I have attended for over 16 years. The women in this church, The Women of the Madalene, are par excellence. They are the most giving, loving and caring women ever! To them, there is no task too great or small when it comes to serving God and His people. Serving with them is truly an honor. Love in the right places!

As if having a family of friends at one church isn't enough, I have a host of friends at Life.Church, which is just a half block from my home. I love serving with these precious people who rock my world (literally) every weekend. I am a part of the Host, Chazown, Baptism, and Operations Teams. Being fully devoted followers of Christ is all about "loving in the right places" -- and the greatest blessing of all is witnessing so many people coming to Christ at each service. Last Sunday, at our Jenks campus alone, over 150 people were baptized in water. Love in the right places!

Then there is my precious godson and his siblings. They are my Tulsa family -- I love these kids and their love for me blesses me so much. All of them have February birthdays -- so of course it's the Month of Love for them AND me. Owen, my godson, is a treasure beyond words to me. He sits by me in church, snuggles close to me, puts his arm around me or holds my hand. Yes, I feel kisses from heaven each time. Love in the right places!

My dear Mom-in-Law lives here in Tulsa. Mom has been such a dear friend to me for 55 years now -- 5 years before my Sweetheart and I married. She has encouraged, prayed for and loved me like a daughter. Last Sunday, Valentine's Day, we had a "Sweetheart" lunch together at Olive Garden. Of course, we talked about the two men that were our loves for a lifetime and because of the richness of those loves, we can be so thankful they're no longer in our past....they are in our future! We'll be with them again one day. Love in the right places!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Post Oak Lodge for the Christ the King ACTS Retreat -- Thursday thru Sunday. I was once a retreatant, but now I'm on the leadership team for the retreat. We've met every Monday for the last three months in preparation for this weekend where women will come and be made to feel like princesses -- daughters of the King. It is a weekend like no other I've ever witnessed. Encounters with the living Christ that causes all of our hearts to melt in His presence. We come to know the true meaning of loving God with all our hearts, souls and minds. Love in the right places!

AND, if all this LOVE in Tulsa weren't enough to bless this heart of mine, I'll be heading to Seattle on Monday for a feast of love with my family there for two weeks, and then back for a week with my Texas family -- no shortage of love there because it's "Love in the right places"!

People ask me "Why are you so happy all the time -- after all, you live alone, you're a widow, you have to handle life and all it gives you by yourself?" I think by now, you know. I'm still here. I'm not done with living. I celebrate each day with as much gusto as I can. Life isn't a destination. It's a beautiful, wonderful, living-life-large JOURNEY of finding love in all the right places. I recommend living this way -- self pity, whining, and complaining is not found here on this journey -- it's all about an attitude of gratitude each and every day! It's finding love in all the right places!

He Calls You To Be Faithful

Day 173 of Photo Inspirations -- God Called Us to Be Faithful
I just returned home from an amazing ACTS Retreat in Luther, OK.  No words can describe the undeniable presence of God that we experienced in all the intricacies of the retreat.  We just knew God's love, peace, and joy was all in each of us as "sisters" and in the one man that was there with us. Father Jack Gleason.  Words he spoke to us are still with me.

He shared, that has a young priest in Rome, he sensed God's desire was for him was the go to a small convent each day to celebrate mass for the nuns there.    Saying "yes" meant certain daily sacrifices. He was taken back when he heard that their masses were at 5:30 am in the morning.  In addition, he didn't have a car and it was a 45-minute walk to get there.  Morning after morning, he took that journey across Rome.  Did he ever wish that he hadn't made such a commitment?  Yes, he did.  But he faithfully continued on day after day.

Then, one day, he showed up at the convent, and there were many cars there.  He didn't know what that meant.  He went in and asked "What's going on?"  They said, "Oh, you didn't hear?  Mother Teresa is with us today."  She was there to serve her fellow sisters and to speak encouragement to them.  In Father Jack's brief conversation with her, she looked at him and said, "God doesn't call you to be successful.  He calls you to be faithful."

Those were words that affirmed Father Jack's commitment to these precious women of God who find ways to be faithful to their calling and to their God every single day.  Success to them is being faithful.   When Father Jack offered himself to serving, goodness was yielded and an exceptional gift was given to him.  We all should keep in mind this marvel.  Some folks think that faithfulness means being the next Mother Teresa in order to do anything for God.  But, they miss the simple openings of the heart that could be just what God is asking from them.  

The enormity of this unassuming nun from India was in her deeds. Everybody respected her persevering work in the restoration of poor people. Mother Teresa had tremendous affection and empathy for all living creatures. She was a lady of character that committed her life to help others.

Father Jack's faithfulness to his "call", opened the door for him to meet a living saint.  Hearing his story, made me very aware of the nudges I've received and let them go because of time restraints or busyness or attitude or "it's just too difficult".  On the other hand, I think about those times when I did say "YES", that I reaped incredible rewards that came as surprises or applause from heaven.  I can only imagine that God has a truckload of blessings ready to be dumped on our lives -- if but only we are FAITHFUL to His still small voice that says "Call that homebound friend; take a meal to a neighbor; take someone to a doctor appointment; volunteer at the Food Bank; start a Bible Study; pray; give out of your abundance."  God doesn't call us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful!

It's the REAL THING!

Day 54 of Photo Inspirations -- It's the REAL THING!
There were so many "awe and wonder" moments at the ACTS Retreat that I attended last weekend, but one of the highlights was hearing Monsignor Dan Mueggenborg, a gifted and eloquent speaker.  Msgr Dan holds a special place in my heart.   Currently he is Pastor of Christ the King Church in Tulsa, but, formerly he served a six-year appointment to the Vatican in Rome. He was on the faculty of the North American College (Seminary) when my sweet husband and I went to Rome on our 40th Anniversary.  He was so gracious to give us grand tours of the college, the city and we enjoyed an authentic Italian meal at one of his favorite restaurants.  Such sweet memories for me, accompanied his amazing "talk".

He shared that when he was studying Theology, as a student, years before at the North American College, Mother Teresa would often come to Rome and he had the tremendous opportunity to meet with her.  In fact he had a private breakfast with her -- just her and him.  He was so humbled to be in her presence, and before their time together ended, he asked:  "I really want to have a memory treasure of this time with you.  Would you please sign this prayer card for me?"  And, she graciously did, and being slightly forward, he asked if she'd sign a second one for a fellow priest who sincerely loved Mother Teresa and followed her ministries.  She was so kind again, to sign the second card.  Msgr Dan framed his card (shown here) that was signed "God bless you, Mother Teresa". And he mailed the other  signed card to his priest friend.  He waited to hear back from his friend, but never did.  Later, he went to see his friend and asked if he had received the prayer card.  His friend said, "Yes, I did, but I already had one."  Msgr Dan asked "You had a signed original?" His friend said. "You know they make hundreds of those cards. They're just reprinted, so I threw it away since I already had one."  Msgr Dan exclaimed, "You THREW IT AWAY?  I was with Mother Teresa and she signed that card and you threw away an ORIGINAL!     IT WAS A PRECIOUS TREASURE!"

He went on to compare that precious treasure being thrown away to how callously and carelessly we often dismiss Christ and the gifts He's given to us. We discount His presence in and with us.  He is the REAL treasure.  He is THE ORIGINAL.

After that beautiful, inspiring talk, I felt on-purpose to do my best to keep Him in a place of honor, as the HEAD of my household and my life.  He's the REAL deal!  I believe in Him.  He is the ONE Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.

Unplugged

Day 53 of Photo Inspirations -- UNPLUGGED!!
I just returned home from a 3-day; 3-night ACTS Retreat where I was completely unplugged from technology -- can you even imagine that I could survive without my computer, social media or my phone OR a clock or watch for that long?

Most of you know I'm ALWAYS on my phone, talking about mobile services, texting, checking emails -- it's my business.  You know I'm always on social media -- it's my mission to bring light to the world.   And, probably most importantly, is my watch -- that provides my ability to be on-time for this and that --  for when I get up, when I'm at my next meeting, when I eat, when I go to bed.   But, this weekend -- it was all about ESSENTIALS -- essentials like meeting with other women, meeting with God,  and giving devotion and 100% focus on Him.   And it was exactly what I needed.

There are no adequate words to describe the refreshing I received just from cutting lose of the chains that held me captive......and I didn't even realize it.  My heart is full to overflowing of the awe and wonder and absolute life-transformation that took place in me and the others.  Indeed, the acronym for ACTS: adoration, community, theology and service -- all became so tangibly real to me by beautiful women who welcomed us into a place of all-out abandonment from distractions for full-on pursuing of intimate time with God.

Now that I'm back home -- unpacking and getting reaquainted with business-as- usual, routines, expectations from others, dealing with life and all the stuff that life brings, I still will draw from the peaceful waters of peace, reflection, simplicity of listening to His still small voice even in the noisy chaos of this busy world.  I know I'll find Him there -- because it's not about the noise or the lack of it -- it's about Him and me -- finding a moment here and a moment there to continue whispering sweet words into each other's ears -- recognizing Him in the wind, the snow, the savory smells in the air and in a warm home, in the bustling of little children running around, in the smile and touch of a friend.  I will still find a place to BE STILL and KNOW HE IS GOD.

Making Room for God

Day 50 of Photo Inspirations -- Making Room for God!
Let the MAKEOVER begin!!  I'll admit it.  I love reality TV shows -- watching real people endeavoring to win a competition or watching personal makeover shows that radically transform someone, like "The Biggest Loser".  And I love the "Fixer-Upper" Show where they take the worst house and totally convert it into a beautiful home that is completely transformed.
 
Today is Ash Wednesday.  And, the Lenten season begins today.  Not counting Sundays, it's 40 days of  "makeover" -- going to a place of introspection and reflection and renewing our hearts, and setting aside time before Easter to prepare for the celebration of the resurrection.

Why 40 days?  Because Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert, and laid 40 hours in the tomb; the Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the wilderness; the world was flooded for 40 days in the time of Noah.  Each was a period of preparation for what was to follow.

I'm taking this season very seriously this year.  I'm being drawn to be in His presence.  I sincerely want to make room for Him.....on purpose.   To kick it off,  I will be attending a 3-day; 3-night  ACTS retreat with the purpose of entering into a deeper relationship with our Lord through adoration and daily prayer, studying scriptures and faith, which will ultimately cause us to be in greater service to our Lord, our church and one another.

I've been looking forward to Lent because it's my time of diving deeper into God's Word, getting my body and soul free of toxicity, and being in a place of openness to His call on my life.  It is intentional introspection and contemplation.  Just as those reality shows give people and homes a makeover, I am counting on this 40-days to give me an "extreme makeover" by allowing the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit to renew me.

Sometimes, the homes in those reality shows need so much renovation, that the workers have to demolish it and start over again from ground up.  Oftentimes, we need that "ground-up" renovation to our hearts and lives.
 
Perhaps you're like me and you're wanting an extreme makeover in your life.  I promise you it's possible to live a life of peace, joy, and abundance.  Our makeover takes place as we submit to the ONE Who created us.....and He starts from the inside out!  Old things will be passed away and the NEW YOU -- will be revealed.   We just have to let go and put our lives into the hands of the Master Makeover Specialist.  The choice is ours.  All we have to do is say, "Have your way in me.  Now, let the transformation BEGIN!"