This is What Seed-Time and Harvest Looks Like

These lovely ladies sat beside me at a wonderful luncheon fundraiser for women’s ministry outreaches yesterday. As we visited, Ann, on the left, told me she and her husband were part of the first twelve people who started meeting to worship God together twenty-two years ago in just a small building in downtown Frisco. They had the hearts for a Catholic Church to be built in Frisco, TX – since the closest ones were in McKinney, Plano or Denton – all at least 30 miles away. Various priests would join them to celebrate the mass for them.

After many long years of planning and two years of construction, the existing church and chapel were completed in December. 2013. The hall we met in yesterday was the first structure built. I saw Ann gazing, almost overwhelmed, at how many women were at the luncheon. The church has over 39,000 members now. From 12 to 39,000 in 22 years. Talk about "seedtime and harvest"! Twenty-two years of planting, praying, serving and giving certainly produced a bumper crop. I said to Ann and Donna, her daughter, “Just look at what you did. You planted many seeds and today you are witnessing the harvest. I was reminded of the scripture: “Be not weary in doing good for in due season you will reap if you don't give up!” Galatians 6:9

I share this sweet exchange of a "sower" who recognizes the harvest she was a part of – the many who have given their lives to Christ, those who have been baptized, married, and raising their own children – planting into them the rewards of sowing and reaping. We plant. God gives the increase. If we don’t dig up our seeds by words we speak or actions we take and if we trust God for the increase, eventually what we planted will yield a fruitful harvest. Waiting is the toughest part of the sowing process, isn’t it? We sow our seed…then…silence. If we sow our seed in faith, we expect it to grow, and we’ll keep expecting— no matter how long it takes. In the meantime, it is important that our words match our faith. We might as well say: “I am expecting a record-breaking harvest.” That's what Ann has seen.

Maybe you’re waiting for a financial harvest, a breakthrough in a relationship, or healing and restoration in your body or emotions or your church or business to grow. Whatever it is, if your harvest is taking longer than you’ve anticipated, God’s Word and His promises are true. So, hold on! God remembers every seed you’ve ever sown. So, don’t give up on your seed just before the finish line. Harvest is coming!

I encourage you to consider the seeds you plant each day into those you influence -- your children and maybe you don’t have children, but you have friends, loved ones, and neighbors that you could be planting seeds of faith, hope, confidence, and encouragement into them. Not only does your influence represent seed time into their lives -- but just maybe, you’ll get to be there when their harvest comes in AND when you watch them plant seeds into others, too. Yesterday, I was able to celebrate “harvest” with dear Ann. She’s a very proud and happy sower AND reaper!

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Today I celebrate the day my sweet Daddy, at age 64, graduated to heaven in 1964. My Sweetheart was only 63. I think God was giving out “Fast Passes” to heaven for two men that I loved so much. Good for them. They both earned those “Fast Passes”. I am not in sorrow today for either of them because there is just too much joy where they are, and so much joy for me here on this side of heaven. Here’s why. Today is the third Sunday of Advent and it's time we should be singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain"! Well -- not necessarily from a mountain -- that would mean we'd have to go climbing! Perhaps we can start right here on level ground to experience the abundant JOY of Christ's coming to this earth for you and me.

On this third Sunday of Advent, in the Catholic Church, the priest wears a rose colored vestment and the third candle, which is pink, in the Advent wreath, is lit. That pink candle symbolizes JOY and St. Paul referenced that joy when he wrote in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.” Can you even imagine that he wrote those words from a dark, cold, damp prison cell? Obviously, he was a great role model for us, because no matter where we are or what we're facing, we can find JOY in the good news of Emmanuel -- God with us -- right smack dab in the middle of our circumstances. That’s why there is no sorrow found in me on this JOY-filled day.

Of course PINK would be the color of the day. Typically, PINK is girly -- we put our little girls in pink dresses or outfits with a pink bow in their hair to declare "It's a GIRL"! (In my case, my little Staci had NO hair so I scotch-taped a little bow on her head -- I know that's hard to believe when we see that massive head of hair she has today! LOL!). Sorry -- I took a rabbit trail from my train of thought about Advent. Back to my thought.....pink isn't just about girls. Hot pink, pale pink, rose pink are all shades of pink that God painted into a sunrise. And, like the various shades of pink, our expressions of joy can be so different. Joy can be exuberant – like that little child jumping up and down at the prospect of something that excites them so much. JOY is also that calm and peaceful experience of God's faithfulness. It can be calm confidence in His sovereignty, or pure delight as He expresses His love. I felt that peace and calmness yesterday as I sat in front of my fireplace, reading my “The Word Among Us” devotional book. I felt it when I wrapped some Christmas presents. I felt it when I watched another sappy Hallmark Christmas movie while I wrapped those presents.

Joy AND pink is also about survival. Oh, the joy we feel when one of our friends expresses "I've just had my last treatment of chemo!" I loved hearing how on this Sunday, when PINK is the color of the day, a church celebrates breast-cancer survivors and women in their parish are given a pink flower in honor of the women who survived and are reminded to be screened regularly. (I just had my screening last week!) That is a beautiful custom to have. Celebration of survival has truly come to be linked with "Pink" in our culture.

Bringing PINK back around to this 3rd Sunday of Advent, PINK is also about a BABY BOY that brought so much JOY to this world. That joy that should never be determined by how we feel, but on WHO God is. The joy of the Lord can thrill us AND it can make us steadfast in the secure knowledge of God's presence with us -- Emmanuel. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to be joyful always and Jesus tells us in Mark 9:24 "With God all things are possible." THAT combination of trust and joy should help us carry on from this 3rd Sunday of Advent to EVERYDAY being JOYFUL!

Whole Lotta' Infusion Going On

Whole Lotta' Infusion Going On

Infusion -- To fill or cause to be filled with something. That word resonated within me when I heard about a friend's husband’s recent cancer surgery. Infusion is a word that my Sweetheart and I became all too familiar with during the course of his battle against cancer. He had his share of I.V. infusions for hydration, nutrition, medication, blood transfusions, antibiotics and chemo. Thankfully, no more infusions, of that sort, needed. He’s healed, whole and cheering us all on from heaven’s grandstands.

During that season, so many people asked me, "How do you cope with the ups and downs of your faith journey?" I'll tell you how we continued to believe we were "winning" no matter what we faced. When Ron and I first talked about that word, infusion, we looked at it two-fold: one, in the medical sense, but then we started saying….."We are also being 'infused' by God's Word as we continue to trust in His many promises." Psalm 119:130 says "The entrance (infusion) of Your words give light." When we meditated on God's Word, it brought light and life. As everyone knew, that was the source of our strength, as we meditated, trusted in, and placed our hope upon the infallible Word of God. We believed it was crucial for our success.

Today, in my own journey of faith, I continue with daily “infusions” of God’s Word. Here’s a verse that explains my quest. "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" Psalm 119:92. That is so true. It has been my lifeline. It has been my strength. Many times during the faith journey with my husband, and now as a widow, I’ve been literally squeezed, but that's why I want to be so filled with the Word of God that when I AM squeezed – when I am facing a challenge, or when I am at a loss for human understanding, or when I am faced with situations in life over which I have no control, I know that I MUST be so filled with the Word of God that I pour out faith and hope and trust in the midst of the storms. That was our mainstay and continues to be my "shelter in the time of storm" today.

In the Catholic Church, when scriptures from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is read, we do the sign of the cross on our foreheads (indicating "May this Word be in my mind"), on our lips (indicating "May this Word be in my mouth") and in my heart (indicating "May the Word be in my heart"). How do we actually get those words into our minds, our mouths and our spirits? By meditating on those words, 24/7, reading them and speaking them consistently over circumstances in our lives. Being as intentional with believing, trusting and speaking -- taking in God's words like medicine, as much as we would take prescribed medications given to us.

So whatever the “issue” is that you and I are facing today and whatever the outcome, we know God’s Word that says "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26)! We are INFUSED with those words. That Word alone is in my mind, my mouth and in my heart. How did it get there? My daily “infusions”.

Flying By the Seat of My Pants = Kisses From Heaven

Missing my home church service yesterday morning because of timing, I headed out for Texas. It was a spendidly gorgeous day with the sun shining so brilliantly. I was bound and determined to attend service somewhere, and as it turned out, the timing was perfect for me to stop in Durant, OK.

Durant has a special connotation for me. It is where my 19 year old Mother and my 31 year old father drove to where Dad's best friends lived, who stood up for them as they got married in Durant. There were 12 years difference in their ages, but it was a match made in heaven. Sweet memory for me as I drove through that sleepy little town, past Southeastern OK State University and made my way to St. Williams Church.

As I drove up to the church, I knew I was going to be in the minority. Most of the attendees I saw going in were beautiful Hispanic people wearing their Sunday best. At first I thought the service would be only in Spanish, but I was pleased that it was all in English. What pleased me even more were the beautiful young girls all dressed in gorgeous white gowns and veils (looking like little brides) and the boys in their Sunday best, standing in the foyer when I walked in. I had to grab a photo of them. I made a spectacle of myself when I said, "Everyone look here -- smile big and say cheese!" They did. It is such a beautiful sight and such a momentous and touching occasion.

First Holy Communion (usually in second grade), is a defining moment and really big celebration for Catholic families. The day of First Communion is one they've spent months preparing for, learning the significance of the price Christ paid when He died on the cross for us, and then as He commanded at the Last Supper "As often as you do this (receive Holy Communion), do it in remembrance of Me." These kids have looked forward to this day with great anticipation -- the day when they are intimately united with Jesus Christ. This day is one the kids will never forget -- and it will be up to the parents', families' and friends' prayers and examples that will help ensure it.

The final little photo is a precious little girl and boy that sat behind me in church. The little girl kept tapping me on my back. I felt her love. I think she knew I was a Nana, just like at my home church where my godson and his sister, give me love-taps, hugs and kisses. I know they are heaven sent...in Tulsa AND in Durant, OK.

I love schedules and I also love "winging" it because when I just run with the wind and I trust that my steps are ordered of the Lord, He gives me some of most precious moments. I felt it big time yesterday. Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a good man (good woman) are ordered by the Lord: and he (she) delights in His way" -- (the way that led me to Durant, OK to witness a little piece of heaven on my way to my little piece of heaven with my kids in Texas). I'm just thanking God, once again, for shining His light brightly into my world.

It Was So Good -- We Did It Again!

Day 363 of Photo Inspirations -- It Was So Good -- We Did It Again!
These photo inspirations are near and dear to my heart.  This day, 14 years ago, my Sweetheart and I resaid our wedding vows during our 35th year of marriage.  I'd like to say it was 35 years of wedded bliss -- all sweet, rosy and delightful times that caused us to want to repeat our vows, and there were plenty of those, but in reality, there were plenty of ups and downs, times we were just not on the same page. There were lots of challenges and struggles.  So on this 35th year of marriage, we were celebrating that we were two tough cookies that believed when we said our vows....."To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part", we meant it.  We stuck together like glue.....and as the years passed by, the bond we had became more precious.

Some of the vows I said were Ruth's words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, when Naomi told her to return to her roots after her husband, Naomi's son, had been killed.  But Ruth said to her, and I said to my husband, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16.   Who knew (we sure didn't) that I would follow my Sweetheart as he fell in love with the Catholic Church after having been a Protestant evangelist, pastor and teacher for most of his life and having had parents who were Protestant pastors for over 50 years.  Those vows rang true as  where he went, I went.   His love became my love.  The beautiful and loving Catholic people became my dearest friends.  The spiritual renewal that ignited the Charismatic Catholic Renewal in the 60s, and continues today, caused our hearts to burn with love for all of God's kids like never before -- wherever they place their love and commitment to Christ.  Today I am more active in evangelism and spiritual renewal than ever before.  Honestly, leading people to Christ and the abundant life He promises and gives, is my greatest goal in life.

These photos were taken at the "resaying of our vows" in a lovely Catholic chapel in San Diego, CA -- where we had just opened a Food Pantry to feed the hurting and broken people in that area.  The icing on the cake after that, was our sweet and tender time of recommitting to those beautiful vows we had spoken 35 years before -- this time we did it in full knowledge that the roads could be very bumpy ahead, but it didn't matter because our devotion and love for each other was worth it all.

I shared all this with you, my dear FB friends and family, before this year ends, to share with those of you who are married and are experiencing some tough times -- challenging times, but I urge you to be TOUGH and steadfast to your vows before God, because tough times don't last, but tough people, tough marriages, and taking tough stands on what commitment, love, trust, and devotion are all about, do.  It is worth every effort, because the toughest journeys make the sweetest victories....even greater.   Trust me. We proved it!

All Soul's Day - Remembering our Loved Ones

Today is All Soul's Day (commemoration of the faithful departed) in the Catholic Church.

In these photos, you'll see banners that have the names of all of those who died in the last year in the church. Loved ones walk down the aisle carrying a rose (the rose ceremony) symbolic of their loved one who passed and the priest reads their name to the congregation. It's a sweet and sacred way of remembering our loved ones who passed on before us.

I remember the year my sweetheart went to heaven, and I saw his name on the banner. It was quite surreal for me. How could his name be up there? I shared that with a dear friend this morning, whose husband's name was up there this year. We both agreed.... "We're still here and God isn't finished with us yet, so we'll rejoice and get excited for the day we get to reunite with them!"

But, the sweetest moments of this Sunday.....and every Sunday, is my precious godson, Owen, and his little sister, Clare, always sitting beside me in church. They both cuddle and hug me with arms around me -- throughout the service -- no shame at all about what anyone would think -- they just love me. I know it! It's been that way for the almost 4 years since my sweetheart passed away. Nine-year old Owen has become my little "sweetheart" in church. And, when he embraces me and tells me he loves me, I tell him I love him, and I also feel a gentle kiss from heaven and I whisper back to heaven "I love you, too!"

How blessed I am to live in such sweet times -- where I treasure the past, and I live so sweetly today! God does have a special love for widows. I can vouch for that -- I sense His presence and love in the smallest, sweetest and tenderest times. And, I'm on constant look-out for those moments! Today was one of those.