Little Ways Pay Off in Big Dividends

After months of what seems to be "little" accomplishments, part of me longs to hear about some of God’s BIG ways – BIG wins – BIG worthwhile news – BIG discoveries like a cure for Covid. But, from so many biblical indicators – God seems to work best in the “littles”.

Just think about the “littles” that God used to make something big. Like, making the first man out of LITTLE dust. Like the LITTLE boy with the LITTLE lunch that fed over 5,000. Like the LITTLE shepherd boy, David, who slew the giant with a stone and sling and conquered the Philistine army. And, then there’s Gideon who was the "smallest" in the "least" clan who saved an entire nation. He started with an army of 24,000 and God required him to reduce it to a LITTLE army of 300. God likes LITTLE.

Saint Thérèse de Lisieux said: "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” She was known for serving God in such beautiful, “little ways”. In this “3rd act of my play”, I find myself doing many “little things” in “little ways” to serve God. It’s a sweet way to live one day at a time and serving in the process.

One of my “little ways” is this blog each day, desiring to spread good news. I am very aware that when I point one finger out to my readers, there are four pointing back at me, so I better practice what I preach! Yesterday, LITTLE was my goal. I’m not tooting my own horn or seeking an “atta girl”! But, how can I give action words without action on my part? So, these were my "little ways". I sent words of encouragement to some friends via text messages and messenger. Went grocery shopping for my friends. And, the gal I helped a couple of weeks ago who fell on the walking path? I give her Jesus in daily text messages and, yesterday, gave her and her daughter cards that express my love and God's love to them.

Here’s my motive for today's blog. We need to take the lid off of LITTLE. Yes, God likes LITTLE. In fact, He sent His beloved Son to earth as a LITTLE baby and changed everything about life, death, eternity and giving the hope for mankind of never perishing and living with Him forever and ever if we believe in Him. Now, that’s what I call BIG! And, that little baby boy grew up and said, “All it takes is a LITTLE mustard seed of faith to move mountains.” Yes, God specializes in making BIG out of LITTLES. He told the “little children” to come to Him. He directed the disciples to get a "little" coin out of a fish's mouth to pay their taxes. Quite frankly, LITTLE is MUCH when God is in it. Yes, LITTLE is much when we follow Christ’s example. We’ll find that LITTLE ways pay off in BIG dividends. What will be your LITTLE today?

If I Could Have One Wish…….

I remember overhearing a conversation between my two youngest grandsons. Brennan, asked his younger brother, Bryson, "If you had a genie in a bottle, what would you wish for?" They certainly earned love tokens when they both said: "For Nana to live with us forever!" They had some other outlandish wishes, but that one put a big smile on this Nana's face.

That conversation and memory made me think about what I would ask for today if a genie in a bottle showed up to grant me one wish, or even if God showed up and asked what one prayer could He answer for me today. How about you? What would YOU ask for? What does YOUR heart long for the most? No doubt, our answers would vary: More time in the day? A healed body? A restored relationship? A financial breakthrough? A child? A spouse? Strength to make it through this day? A dream vacation? World peace?

King David’s son, Solomon, was asked by God what one thing He could grant him. King Solomon responded: "wisdom to lead God’s people." Evidently, God liked that response because He gave him a wise and discerning mind. And Solomon became known as the wisest man in all of Israel. People from far and wide came to him for his wisdom. (1 Kings 3)

King David's wish (or ask) went like this: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4) I am drawn to the “one thing” David asked of God — to dwell in His house forever. More than anything, David longed to be in God’s presence. No wonder he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” David experienced many highs and lows in his life, but I think his life's theme was a singular longing to be in God’s presence.

In my blog yesterday, I spoke about being in God’s presence – how in His presence, we will know what to do, where to go and even what to say – because in His presence is the answer for everything. That is “my wish” and my prayer today, that our hearts will be filled with this one thing . . . a desire to dwell in His presence. I’m pretty sure God delights in lavishing His love upon us. In fact, Jesus tells us God takes it to a level beyond anything any parent has ever done for their children. After all, He has already been more generous toward us than we will ever deserve. To live daily practicing His presence creates plenty of opportunities for God to show up and show out. No, He's not a Genie or Fairy Godmother, but He is the God in WHOM all things are possible. What better place to be than in His presence?

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
I sent that message to my best friend yesterday. She has a busy life and so do I, but we do our best to stay connected. I forgot they were away in a remote location without cell, so no wonder I was saying "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Those words are actually from one of my earliest memories, playing “Hide and Seek”. Now, my fondest memories are playing it with children and grandchildren.

My memory of playing the game was the nervousness that would build as the “it” person started counting. I’d run looking for the spot that would conceal me perfectly. Sometimes I’d peek around the corner to see if the “it” person was anywhere near and, oh, that feeling when the “it” person was only a few feet away. My heart would beat faster. Every-so-often I’d get fortunate. They’d keep going, and I’d breathe a quiet sigh of relief. As I stood or crouched there, I would listen for the words I longed to hear -- the words I knew meant the game was over. “Come out! Come out! Wherever you are!” When I heard that phrase I knew my hiding place had been successful!

Our Hide and Seek games don't always stay in our childhood or always stay so fun and innocent. I remember David and how often he was hiding from his enemies. When he wrote Psalm 31, things weren't going well for him. He was tired, weak, and hurting. His enemies were chasing him, and his friends had let him down. His life was at risk but he was not defenseless. He knew that God was the best source of safety and that a right relationship with Him was the wisest defense strategy. That’s where he found his security. Just as a small child finds hope in calling out for his older brother when threatened by a bully, David called on the name of the Lord. Because he was living in fellowship with Him, he hid in the security of the One who had helped him so many times before.

I remember the one thing that could ruin a good game of Hide and Seek. It was the cheater who peeked while they counted. They always knew where everyone was hiding and was quick to find them. Well, that’s the enemy of our souls who cheats and wants to destroy us. It is the cheater who makes us go into hiding when things don't go our way and life gets difficult But where we hide can make all the difference. Often, we hide by becoming reclusive – staying away from fellowship and friendship with others. We may hide in regret for mistakes we’ve made. But today, it's time to stop playing those games and "Come out. Come out. Wherever you are."

The cheater-enemy has been caught so we don’t have to stay in hiding places any longer. The Psalmist said, “You are my hiding place." (Psalm 32:7) "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High (Psalm 91:1) -- NOT he who dwells in the closet of negativity and doubt, but in the shelter of the Most High where we abide under the shelter of the Almighty and we find our strength and hope in Him. David knew where his hiding place was. Are we as quick to seek that same security? God was a sure hiding place for David, and He is also the One we hide in and cling to for our protection. Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.

Yes, I Can Be a Little Grabby.....on Purpose

My Children's Hospital sagas continue. A younger child has no idea what faces them here so they hold tightly to their mom or dad. They only know they hurt and their parents love them too much to let it last. Yesterday, most of the kids were quite strong as they allowed mom or dad to wait while I took them back for x-rays. One little girl grabbed hold of me, hugged me, called me Princess and asked me to be her best friend. My heart melted as she held tightly to my hand. The diagnosis? This time, it was a sprained finger. Last time? A broken arm. No wonder she wasn't grasping so tightly to her mom. She knew we were here to be loving, kind and caring and to make her better.

Soon, another mom came in with a grasping-tightly, in much pain, three-year-old. If that wasn't enough, the mom had a feisty one-year-old, hard-pressed to stay in his stroller. Mom needed "a hand" and I gave her one. I intervened by making rumbling sounds with his truck and other shenanigans while the little girl was being x-rayed but it lasted only so long before he was looking for his mom. When she appeared, he stretched out his little hands for her. Those HANDS -- he knew so well.

As I listened to news reports about the devastation in Oklahoma and Missouri over the last couple of days, I was reminded of David's words: "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your HAND against the wrath of my enemies, and Your RIGHT HAND will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your HANDS." Psalm 138:7-8. That scripture is about the Lord's goodness to the faithful. I see how His hands are reaching out to His children -- you and me. God is our relief-provider.

In the Book of Psalm, we can clearly see David's heartfelt relationship with God. He was in trouble so many times. Still, he knew God and His mighty hands that would hold tightly to him and bring him out of the mess he seemed to get himself into often. David knew God would stretch out His HANDS in his time of trouble and deliver him. I hear God saying to us over and over "Fear not!" in the midst of our troubles. We just need to be GRABBY and take hold of His hand when He stretches it out to us. Grab hold of it tightly and don't let go. No matter what we are going through, God will fulfill the purposes that He has planned for our lives. We can still feel the wind but when we hold tight to God's unchanging hands, He makes it all better.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

She's a Looney-Toon

Remember those wacky, wild, half-witted Looney Tunes characters? We laughed at their shenanigans. They gave us plenty of comedy relief. We often think the same thing about overzealous Christians. They are the ones who stand on a street corner waving some kind of "Jesus" sign and yelling “Do you love Jesus?” They are the ones who call attending church, small groups and Bible studies as a fun night out!

I saw a man joyfully dancing down the street and waving a sign that said, "TRUST GOD" on it. The first impression of those passing by was probably "That guy's a 'looney-tune’!" But, he inspired me. I gave him a big thumbs up as I passed him. I recognized his joy. Maybe he was deliriously happy because of an answered prayer and he wanted everyone to experience his joy, too! On the other hand, maybe he was acting in faith, simply trusting God for something that seemed almost impossible in the natural. Either way, he had the "goods" on trusting.

My own daughter can be seen as a Looney Tune because her eyes are always open for someone to encourage and bring hope to their life. Her line is usually “Is there something I can pray with you about?” And, most people are quick to say "yes". On our recent trip to Tulsa, I had to hold her at bey because we were on a time crunch for an appointment, so she kept her head down when we stopped at a service station. Seriously, I want to be more like her – bold, unafraid and unashamed of what people think, and letting my little light shine.

What causes some folks to live with such unabandoned devotion to God? I'd like to suggest that they are the ones who once were lost and now they’re found; they were on their death bed and now they’re healed and whole; they were once lonely, but now they are secure in knowing how loved and cared for by God they are; they were once an alcoholic or drug addict and now they’re free; they were once homeless and now they have a home, a job, and a family and friends.

Think about what a "looney-tune" Noah must have been to those who watched him building the ark when it had never rained before. And, here we are living in this 21st Century and many of us have become bold and fanatical in our faith and devotion to God, so much so that we wear "Victory in Jesus" t-shirts or other slogans that reference God and other branded items that makes others refer to “those Looney-Tune people”. We’re those people who are radical enough to defend the unborn; who love our Country, and those who believe nothing is impossible with God. We're those Looney Tunes who attend church regularly, read our Bibles, and share God’s good news wherever we go.

But most importantly we enjoy being referred to as Looney Tunes. We've trusted God in the storms of life and we came through it all. Actually, maybe it’s the people who don’t trust in God that are the real "Looney Tunes". Maybe people who never take a risk, never face their fears, and those who don't know how to dance in the storms are the real "LooneyTunes".

Honestly, there are days that I am so profoundly overjoyed at the answers to prayer, the blessings that come my way, and sheer delight in my relationship with God -- that I could be that guy in my desire for others to see that TRUSTING GOD truly pays off! Yes, there are prayers that don't get answered the way we'd like them to. Often we get a "No" or a "Not yet" answer, and, even so, we learn that total TRUST with complete certainty that He will work it ALL for our good, just becomes our way of life. So when others point to us as Looney Tunes – let’s own up to it. After all, we're in good company with Jesus. No feedback necessary. No need to be concerned. God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good. Now from Looney Tunes' Porky Pig: "Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th... That's all, folks!"

Judge Them Oh Lord!

As my readers know, I am a sunny sky, rainbows-after-rain, kind-of-writer, but it seems irreverent to not acknowledge the dark clouds that blew in when New York lawmakers legalized abortion until birth. My heart ached when I saw the “celebration” and the gleeful faces of those lawmakers in my newsfeed.

My heart cries out “Judge them, oh Lord!” What was Jesus thinking when He said, in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!” Quite frankly, I’d like to request that hail, fire, and brimstone be unleashed on those cray crays. Lord, have mercy!

Now that I’ve had my venting moment, I must repent and remember Christ’s teachings to love in spite of the evil in our world, but we shouldn’t ignore what we can do besides praying and raise our voices in proclaiming “LIFE MATTERS!”

In Psalm 69 David cries out to God about his enemies, “Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them." Whew! Don’t those words make us want to team up with David and say “Hit ‘em with your best shot, Lord?”

Can't we pray the way David did? Can't we ask for God to pour out his wrath upon evildoers? Jesus showed up and flipped all that on its heels when He said: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." That whole “loving our enemies” doesn’t make sense in this world, but, oh, lest I forget, it’s a command from another world – an entirely different kingdom than this one. It’s the “Kingdom of Heaven” world which is rooted in God’s own love for HIS enemies.

Here’s what that world looks like: Christ loved His enemies by feeding them, teaching them, and having compassion on them even when He knew they would later kill Him. The world – this world -- which is full of corrupt, evil people who continually refuse to follow Him is the very same world Christ was sent to reconcile and redeem. Christ came to earth to be a servant for the sake of His enemies so that they might know Him and come to love Him.

With his dying breath, Jesus prayed for those who put Him to death. “And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. He showed His great compassion and love for the world even while they hated Him. God’s eyes are not closed to the evil of this world. He will judge all one day. Father, for those whose hearts are cold, may You open their eyes and plant in their hearts a love for the treasure of life and the strength to protect it. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, have mercy on us all.

Go Ahead. Judge a Watermelon By Its Cover!

Watermelon is my favorite summer fruit. It’s amusing to watch people thumping on watermelons trying to find the best one. I could never nail that sound. But HOLD ON Mr. Watermelon Thumper! I finally aced my watermelon sweetness picks. Here's the real deal on picking the sweetest watermelon:
~ Make sure it has a prominent yellow spot. This is where it sat on the ground ripening. No spot = premature pick = not ripe. ~
~ Look for "webbing". This is the brown, coarse web-looking material caused when bees pollinate the flower and scar the membranes that later form the fruit. The more pollination = more webbing = sweeter fruit. *****You're welcome!!!*****

Did you read between the lines of picking a sweet watermelon? We need to find the sweetest ones by looking for imperfections, flaws, defects, yellow spots, brown, coarse webbing, and scars.
Yes, we SHOULD judge a watermelon by its cover – but NEVER should we judge a book OR another person by their cover. Those perfect and well put together, dressed-to-the-nines folks might be filled with anger and hard-heartedness. And those with scars, body piercings, tattoos, or multi-colored hairdos might be the most genuine, loving and caring people with hearts after God and care more about others than we can imagine. Only God knows the hearts of His children and is their "fruit inspector".

Guilty -- as charged. I was at a church a couple of weeks ago and sat by a beautiful young woman who had tattoos all over her arms and legs. I hugged her and "God blessed her", but inwardly I was thinking "What was she thinking when she did all that?" Yes, I was judging. Then, on a video was a guy speaking who was all tattooed (from what I could see) except for his face. I think I may have gasped because the person I was with whispered:"He is the kindest, SWEETEST and devoted-to-Christ person you will ever meet." I later found out the gal beside me was his wife and "is also, the SWEETEST".

Immediately, I remembered when the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse's home to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse had eight sons to choose from. Sure, with Samuel's eyes, it was plain to see that the obvious pick -- the tallest, most handsome, and best choice to be king would be Eliab. "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

That sounds a lot like the sweetness of a watermelon, doesn’t it? Little, ruddy, shepherd-boy-David was overlooked. In fact, he wasn’t even invited to the “beauty pageant”, but when Samuel asked “Are these all of your sons?” and when Jesse replied, “I have one more son – young shepherd boy David”, Samuel asked for him to brought to him. We know the rest of that story. Young David was anointed king of Israel that day. His heart was a heart after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)

What God cares about the most is the sweetness of the fruit that is growing inside us. Our Master "Picker" sees that we are all very precious and valuable and He is always "checking out our flaws and imperfections", giving us "heavenly" thumping because He's very aware of the "maturing" that needs to go on inside.

Obviously, this post is pointed at you with one-finger. The other four are pointing back at me. I'm on a mission to have my Father's eyes. Eyes that find the good in things and people; eyes full of compassion and sensitivity -- NOT looking at the outward appearance. Sure we all have imperfections and flaws and that's a good thing because, like the watermelon -- the greater the flaws and imperfections.....the sweeter the fruit. I certainly want the Fruit of the Spirit to be a reflection of He who is the sweetest and most desirable in me. May we be imitators of our Creator and rather than the desire to BE beautiful....that we desire to create His beauty everywhere WE ARE and everywhere WE GO!

The Great Multiplier – Little is Much When God is in It

I love hearing my youngest grandson rattle off his multiplication tables. It reminds me of when I learned to multiply as a child. I have used that knowledge many times over the years. 9x9=81; 6x7=42; 8x3=24 – I just did that and I didn’t even need a calculator! LOL!

I was thinking about the example of multiplication when Jesus sent the disciples out to find food to feed the crowd of over 5,000 men, plus women and children. This story always astounds me, because here we are in this 21st century with a restaurant or a fast food franchise on almost every corner and to come up with meals to feed that many in a short measure of time would be impossible. But, then enters the GREAT MULTIPLIER. They are in the middle of nowhere and the crowd is hungry. Of course, the first thing the disciples think and say “Send them home, Lord, so they can eat!” Now if that were today, we’d at least have a power bar or a little snack to tide us over. But those folks were thinking one thing: “Jesus of Galilee is there and He can heal us, restore us, bring freedom to our hearts and souls.” Jesus’ response was “See if there is any food in the crowd, and it turned out that a Mom packed her LITTLE boy a LITTLE lunch to tide him over and that lunch was the LITTLE that Jesus needed for the crowd -- five loaves of bread and two fish.

“Bring them here to me,” Jesus said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 14:13-21). WOW! (Food for Thought: Where did those baskets come from? Maybe the little boy carried his lunch in a basket, and Jesus even MULTIPLIED the baskets??)

Co-partnering with the disciples and that LITTLE boy, Jesus was able to feed the masses by MULTIPLYING what LITTLE they had on hand. He is the Master MULTIPLIER. Just as He multiplied the LITTLE that day for that massive crowd, today, we are the chosen partners He uses. Imagine that little boy's story the rest of his life? Jesus used ME! He takes LITTLE and makes BIG out of it. "Little is much when God is in it!"

A LITTLE shepherd boy, David, with a LITTLE sling and stone – took down a GIANT. “Little is much when God is in it.” Do you feel LITTLE today? Do you have LITTLE to give God? It doesn't matter how large or small, when we give our time, our talents and our treasure to God, He will MULTIPLY it. What if, today, we present Him with what we have? Maybe a LITTLE prayer, a LITTLE donation, a LITTLE kind word, a LITTLE love, a LITTLE comfort, a LITTLE care, a LITTLE meal, a LITTLE act of service. No matter what the LITTLE is – as God's partners, our LITTLE just might be what God uses to multiply many blessings to others. Maybe inviting someone to dinner today or giving away items we no longer need, or taking a meal to someone. It may seem little to us, but BIG to them. Yes, little becomes BIG when we accept our partnership with our Master MULTIPLIER! LITTLE is much when God is in it.

The Power of Preparation

We’ve just completed another NCFCA Speech and Debate Tournament in Dallas. I say “We” because I dig my heels in along with the other parents and community judges who volunteer to judge the debate and speech rounds. I’m always amazed at these young people who are “preparing” for life by being involved in a program that provides such a firm foundation for their future. They’ll take these skills with them into whatever vocation or occupation they pursue in the future. The stage presence, the ability to think-on-their-feet, the mental steadfastness, etc. are just some of the benefits. In some of the debate rounds, it didn’t take long to determine what the outcome of the debate was going to be because it was evident who the most prepared debaters were – they were the ones who had great vocal articulation, confidence, knew their subject matter well and you knew they had studied and PREPARED for this event.

Both Payton and Alexia have done so well this year! They have both already qualified for Regionals, so Alexia didn’t compete this weekend, but Mr. Aggressive Payton is working on more speaker points so he competed again and did so well -- ranked in six different categories. I know, one day, we'll look back on the preparation they've gone through in their speech and debate tournaments. Without a doubt, they are being prepared for that perfect plan God has for them. These times are preparing the soil for the future harvest!

There’s something to be said for PRE (before): Why do we look for the vegetables before we till the soil and prepare it for the seed? It’s the soil, and not the seed, that determines the quality of the harvest!

It would have made no sense for the young shepherd boy, David, to be able to kill a giant with a sling shot. A lion and a bear didn’t look like a Goliath, but they were the perfect instruments of preparation. Seriously, everything is preparation. Every mistake we make is preparation. Every lesson we learn is preparation. Every step of our faith journey is preparation. God uses it all.
One of Payton’s speeches in the category of Original Oratory was “Learning from Adversity”. In it he talked about in his young years when his mother insisted that he practice his piano and those were the years when he’d rather play outside than practice his piano, but his mother would say, “Trust me. One day you’ll be so glad I made you practice.” And Payton said, “Yes, today I am so glad as I teach others to play the piano, and I would never be here today were it not for the times of practice and preparation.

I know God prepared me for the season I am in. Who knew I would be living so on purpose with what I do today….even with these blog posts? Oh, God did – when I was in typing lessons in my high school class; when I became a technical writer for companies that I worked for; when I needed a forum to shout to the mountain tops that “GOD IS FAITHFUL” in the midst of my greatest trials.

The school teacher prepares lessons that will prepare her students for good grades that will help promote them to their next grade and prepare them for life. Most certainly, THE Teacher (our Heavenly Father) knows best about what He is PREPARING for us. When we start seeing our pain as preparation; whatever we’re going through is preparation; whatever is hurting us – is preparation. God is preparing us for what He has prepared for us. It is not failure – it is preparation. Indeed, there is POWER in preparation.

Embrace the Place

Because my car had hit the 90,000 mile point, my car dealership rep advised me that I would soon need to have my transmission flushed to keep it running smoothly. That service would be $180. I thought I might go to a nearby service shop that I had used for a front light replacement. Their price to flush the transmission was only $99. Great savings, but I changed my mind because that “Inner Voice” prompted me to take my car to the dealership for the service. I’m so glad I listened and obeyed that Voice, because they found a greater issue that, if not repaired, would have created a serious problem for me. The other issue repairs were $1700, but my extended warranty took care of it. Whew! Thanks be to God for His still small voice that I've come to know so well.

I remembered hearing a speaker who gave a talk about “Embracing the place where we are today. God knows where we're at and He has a plan for us to fulfill IN THAT PLACE, so we shouldn’t get stressed out if that place is an uncomfortable place. When I thought about the cost of the repairs, first I thought "I can save $81 if I use that service shop – besides it’s much closer to get to than my dealership. Then I thought about that “Embrace the place" message, and realized God knew about the other “issue” before my dealership did, and that prompting I had to take my car to the dealership for the service, was His best idea. He was protecting me from having to deal with a greater challenge. Father really knows best, so I settle in and "embrace this place".

Remember the shepherd boy, David, who eventually became King David? Jesse brought all his sons, except for David, to parade in front of Samuel because he thought one of them would be chosen the next king. After all David was JUST a shepherd boy taking care of sheep. But God knew where David was all the time, and he was the ONE being prepared to lead God's people. We all know David's story -- he was being prepared for royalty while he was embracing his place as he tended his sheep.

Could it be that you're ready to take a job outside the home instead of having to balance all the mommy duties that you have to tackle every day? On the other hand, you know that where you're at right now is part of God's plan for you in this season? Embrace the place. God knows right where you are.

Could it be you're ready and capable to be in a higher profile position at your church, but you're hid as you teach the little children? Embrace the place. God knows where you are.

Could it be that the job promotion you didn't get is part of God's plan today? Embrace the place. He knows.

Could it be that you've been overlooked, like David, for a leadership position, but it's part of God's plan for you to stay right there a little longer? Embrace the place. God has the best plan carved out for you. He sees.

Could it be that the loan that fell through on your dream home was a part of God's plan? Embrace the place. He has just the perfect home in His plans and it will show up right on time.

Yes, our God who knows everything about everything – our past, our present and our future -- has THE PLANS to prosper us, and not harm us. He has plans to give us hope and a great future (Jeremiah 29:11). So let’s “embrace the place” we’re in right now. Embracing the place is being faithful in this place that He's designed for us today. God knows where we're at, and at the RIGHT time and RIGHT place, He will reposition us. In the meantime, we TRUST HIM in the smack dab place He has us in right now and the place in our future. By the way – wherever those places are – He’s already there waiting for us to arrive. So, let’s embrace this place AND that place!

This is Crazy! This is Awesome!

I enjoy reading Bible stories that start out "This is crazy" but end up "This is awesome". For example, a little shepherd boy with a mere sling and stones, going up against a giant Philistine -- wearing the toughest, rock-solid armor ever must have been a "This is crazy" moment, but we know how it ended. The headlines in the morning news: "Notorious Philistine Taken Down by a Shepherd Boy" -- "This is Awesome!"

What about Moses leading millions out of Egypt and facing the Red Sea, along with Pharoah's army in hot pursuit. "This is crazy". If we could have read Moses' thoughts, I wonder if they had been "This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!" The headlines on that day must have read: "Millions walk through the Red Sea unharmed. Pharoah's entire military loses lives in the waters of the Red Sea." "This is awesome!" I remember hearing about an agnostic who said: "The only reason the Israelites were able to cross that sea was because that time of year the waters were only one foot deep." And the reply by a believer was "WOW! That's awesome then, Pharoah's army drowned in only one foot of water!" LOL!

Have you had some "This is crazy" moments that turned into "This is awesome" moments? I did. When my husband convinced me to take flying lessons and the day my instructor got out of the airplane and said, "You're ready. Go on and do three take-offs and landings.....alone!" In flying, a pilot’s First Solo is a huge milestone. After hours of training and ground study, you finally take to the air on your own. I thought "WHAT? This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!!" But as I was all alone in the sky, I actually felt quite comfortable -- I started thinking "This is awesome, this is awesome, this is awesome."

I went on to succeed at my first solo flight. And I had the ripped shirt to prove it. In-line with tradition, my instructor cut up the back of my shirt. Before modern electronics, in-cockpit communication was mainly through shirt tugging and hollers from the instructor that sat behind you. Cutting off the back of the shirt symbolizes this very important step -- as the instructor won't need to be yanking on it any more. At the end of that thrill-ride, I shouted "THAT WAS AWESOME." On the other hand, my husband was mush. He said that he couldn't believe it when he saw my instructor get out of the plane and his wife take to the skies.....ALONE! He admitted he had never been so nervous in all his life! For me, it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

So it was a no brainer for me to be strapped into the safety harness when we were in Mexico a couple of weeks ago, and go parasailing. The same for jet skiing. I've learned that if we aren't willing to put ourselves in some "This is crazy" situations, we'll never experience "This is awesome" moments. If we aren't willing to run a marathon or parasail or ride a camel (I did in Israel) or give a speech before a large audience or start a business or ride a roller coaster, we'll never fly above circumstances of life that tend to keep us grounded in fear. By the way -- all those crazy things we may do sure makes for above-average prayer life. We can't NOT pray when we are flying solo in an airplane. And the same is true when we take a leap of faith in anything we hope to accomplish!

At some point in our lives, there comes a time when we have to make a decision. We need to decide to go for it (take a leap of faith) or to be complacent. I want to live with child-like faith in my all powerful Father. I wanna' live like that!

A Lion, A Bear, A Big Dude = Promotion

A couple of days ago, I shared about young David and his ability to withstand the taunts and threats of the giant, but all it took was confidence and knowing who he was as God's representative (That giant was messing with the wrong guy!), and he took down that giant in one fell swoop! That seemed to be his crowning moment, even though it wasn't his first encounter with the enemy.

I want to add a little P.S. to that post today. David DID win that epic battle with Goliath, but God had prepared him in the trenches, in the “small” things. We might say, it wasn't an overnight success story. David was faithful to fulfill his responsibilities while simply tending to his sheep -- certainly a menial task -- not star quality opportunities. But, David did anything God asked him to do. When he faced the lion and the bear, he didn’t cower in fear. He knew that God had called him to the sheep, and that God would be faithful to give him the victory. That's why his faith grew as he destroyed the lion and the bear. So when the BIG DUDE came along, David already knew HIS God would defeat that giant as well.

Moral of this story: "Be faithful in the little things (those seemingly insignificant responsibilities and jobs -- like David did as a shepherd boy), then God will make you ruler of much (PROMOTE YOU!)." Luke 16:10. David eventually became King David of Israel. How's that for promotion?

And, like David, the sheep we protect, lead and guide (you know.....those everyday duties and responsibilities); each lion and bear we slay (everyday issues, challenges and circumstances); and each giant we take down.....are ALL a part of God's Master Plan that leads us to our destiny and purpose! He's preparing us right now and fully equipping us to be the most epic GIANT SLAYER ever! So, BIG DUDE, move out of our way! We've got your number and you're going DOWN....and WE'RE MOVING ON UP!

Integrity Matters So Are You Behaving or Misbehaving?

I'm reading through the Bible this year and reading about those people that got themselves into some really crazy situations, has sparked my interest like never before. I'm having so many "aha" moments in my readings.

Take for example, King Saul and David. Remember the story of the "little" shepherd boy, David, and how he took down that ginormous giant, Goliath? Most writers and speakers end the story there, but it's not the end. When those Philistines saw that their leader lost his head.....literally.....they ran in terror. Then the armies of Israel ran after the Philistines, killed them all and plundered their tents. Not only were their enemies defeated, but they took home the goods and treasures with them. Now that's what I call....being MORE THAN CONQUERORS.

The crowd's victory chants and cheers went like this "Saul has slain his thousands, but David, his ten-thousands." More than that triumph and victory, what struck me most was how King Saul became so jealous of young David. From that point on, Saul was bound and determined to kill David, but all his many attempts to kill him were foiled. And here's what was impressed upon me. In 1 Samuel 18:5, you'll read "So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he BEHAVED wisely." Again, in verse 14 "And David BEHAVED in all his ways, and the Lord was with him." Then, in Verse 30, "David BEHAVED more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed."

Three times we find that David behaved himself wisely. Typically, we use the word, misbehaving, when it comes to the way our children act up. But, I'm sure you will agree that we have been inundated with "misbehaving" adults lately, particularly in the political arena. But, that's them, what about us? People watch you and me. They scrutinize us and, for sure, the life we live at home and outside the home is one we cannot afford to compromise or lose. We need to do as David did and BEHAVE ourselves wisely. That phrase has the idea of “being wise; considerate; paying attention to what's right."

Yesterday, my post was about "curb appeal" -- being full of God's love and character. In those scriptures, David did the right thing, when the wrong thing was done to him. He could have become arrogant and self-serving when he received all the acclaim, but he BEHAVED well. He could have taken revenge on Saul, but he BEHAVED well. There is no mention of David arguing or trying to pass his work off on someone else. He BEHAVED well even when he carried a lot of responsibilities. As David behaved himself wisely he earned the respect of the people of Israel and even the servants of Saul. He served patiently and faithfully in every aspect of life and he was noticed and respected for that.

As ambassadors for God, we, too, have an obligation and responsibility to BEHAVE ourselves in such a way that it pleases and honors God. Shouldn't we carry ourselves wisely among all who know us, and in every situation, be men and women of integrity?

Our country is in desperate need of Godly leadership. We need those who will live a life of integrity before God and others. Integrity is not just measured by who we are in public, but who we are in private when no one else is around. Integrity and character are doing the right thing when no one is watching.

Let's keep this word in the forefront of our minds. "Am I behaving well in this situation? Am I making a difference in the world around me? Do we hear God speaking about us "She/He behaved herself/himself wisely? If not, shouldn't we make it a priority to start NOW?

Eliminate "I Am Just A....." From Our Vocabulary

I asked a young woman what she did for a living and she responded “Oh, I’m just a stay-at-home Mom.” I quickly corrected her. I said, “You are NOT “just a” anything. You are so blessed to be able to be in a position of the highest honor and status. You are the royal queen of your household, and your subjects are indeed so fortunate to live in your kingdom. The truth is I have yet to meet a mother who is “just a mother.” The mothers I know are teachers, confidantes, entrepreneurs, designers, chauffeurs, administrative geniuses, counselors, domestic engineers and so many other titles. The mothers I know are brilliant, strong, gifted, artistic, wisdom-filled, optimistic, forward-thinking, and can-do-anything women.

And here’s some additional truth….no matter what our title, our role, or what our job description says, there is no such thing as “just a yard man, or just a store cashier or just a volunteer or just a anything. As a matter of fact, I think “I am just a…..” is a phrase we need to eliminate from our vocabulary.

As part of God’s family, there is no such thing as “just a.” Let’s look at some of our ancestors:
~ David could have said he was “just a boy.” But he didn’t. He grabbed five smooth stones and slayed a giant.
~ Paul could have said he was “just a tentmaker.” But he didn’t. He carried the gospel into the world, spreading it like wildfire.
~ Mary could have said she was “just a teenage girl” from the wrong side of the tracks. But she didn’t. Nine months later, she gave birth to our Savior.

God could have said He was “just a creator”. But He didn’t. He could have carelessly thrown the stars into place and tossed the world into space, but He didn’t. Our God created, designed and purposefully placed you and I here on this earth, at this time for purposes beyond what our eyes can see or our minds can conceive.

God had such detailed plans for our existence that He gave us His best GIFT, His Son, and with His Son, He gave us everything we need to be people of the highest status. We are royalty and “our kind” raise our heads up, put our shoulders back and stand tall. We are blood-bought Children of Almighty God, and I suggest that’s way more than a “just a”!

Are You a Lion Player or Lion Slayer?

I've been thinking a lot about David, the shepherd boy. He loved God so much. He spent a lot of time with his sheep. He knew them and he knew their enemies. He protected them when he killed the lion and the bear AND the giant. He had the incredible ability to conquer those "normally" scary, life-threatening opponents.

I thought about him again when I heard Dr. Dan Posey at Texas A&M speak for the Vet School Open House on Saturday. He told us his "lion story" when he was a Vet School student. He was asked to help with unloading a tranquilized, 600 pound lion. But when he went to grab for his head, the lion started to bite at him. Posey's gut feeling was "This lion isn't asleep!" In his humorous style, he said, "When it doesn't feel right -- it's probably not right." I would suggest that feeling is WISDOM. Posey went on to pull the lion out and put it on the ground, but the lion got up. He asked us, "What would be your instinct?" Someone yelled out, "RUN!" But he said it didn't even enter his mind to run. His instinct was "I can't let this lion get away!" All the other vet students had run away. He thought "What can I give him? I'm graduating in 3 months, so I'm not going to give him my hands. Then I thought of having children, so I'm not going to give him those body parts, so I lifted my leg to protect myself and he grabbed my leg. He drug me 25 feet. That day I saw a miracle. Everyday we should acknowledge miracles of all kinds. We carry cell phones. They are miracles. That day, my professor jumped off a 6 ft platform and nailed the lion. They got the lion tranquilized, but the lion got up and was coming after me again and I put my arm up over my face and he grabbed my arm. A technician got him and pulled him off of me." Posey spent several days in the hospital recovering from his wounds, but he lives today to tell his famous lion story to people about his experiences and love for his career. He wasn't a lion slayer but a lion player.

There's two schools of thought here.....being a protector of your body, your sheep, your resources or talents and slaying the lion that comes after those things that are nearest and dearest to you OR playing with the lion and leaving wisdom out of the equation. I think the common denominator here is "protection". David protected his sheep. Posey was protecting the lion, but in doing so, failed to comprehend the instincts of the King of the Jungle and he failed to use wisdom.

I think of the scripture 1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." We are involved in combat with an enemy who is powerful and deceptive. Strong confidence in God doesn't justify carelessness. We still need to be alert. He is dangerous. He’s not a joke. He’s not a little person who sits on our shoulder trying to influence us. But, here's the deal -- he is just "LIKE" a roaring lion and his first priority is to intimidate us. He's looking for an opportunity to catch us unaware. As in any sport we have to know our opponent and what he's capable of. Like David, we must be prepared for the times when the lion, the bear and the giant come against us. Not so much to KNOW the enemy, but Jesus Christ Who is our defender, strong tower and victorious Lord. I choose to be a "lion slayer" like "David" -- to know when to "hold 'em" and know when to "fold 'em"....er....know when to slay them.

A Bear, A Lion and a Big Dude

I posted about David and his giant, yesterdayt! Just wanted to add....a P.S. to that post!

David DID win that epic battle with Goliath, but God had prepared him in the trenches, in the “small” things. David was faithful to fulfill his responsibilities. David did anything God asked him to do. When he faced the lion and the bear, he didn’t cower in fear. He knew that God had called him to the sheep, and that God would be faithful to give him the victory. That's why his faith grew as he destroyed the lion and the bear. So when the BIG DUDE came along, David already knew HIS God would defeat that giant as well.

Moral of this story: "Be faithful in the little things (those seemingly insignificant responsibilities and jobs -- like David did as a shepherd boy), then God will make you ruler of much (PROMOTE YOU!)." Luke 16:10. David eventually became King David of Israel. The sheep we protect, lead and guide (you know.....those everyday duties and responsibilities); each lion and bear we slay (everyday issues, challenges and circumstances); and each giant we take down.....are ALL a part of God's Master Plan that leads us to our destiny and purpose! He's preparing us right now and fully equipping us to be the most epic GIANT SLAYER ever! So, BIG DUDE, move out of our way! We've got your number and you're going DOWN....and WE'RE MOVING ON UP!

Peace is my Governor

Yesterday, a sweet new friend I've met here in Austin, asked me for the website for my daily blog. Not only do I blog on my Google website, but I also post it here on Facebook: http://livinginthepeacezone.blogspot.com/

I started blogging years ago, back when it would have seemed I had every right in the world to be in turmoil, anxiety and fear. But, like little David, the shepherd boy, I faced those giants and slung my "peace" stones at them. I started blogging and, quite frankly, not only have I experienced almost unexplainable peace during those worst of times, but I've been able to convey to others how they, too, can live in God's sweet peace.

If there's anything I protect and hold most precious to my heart, it's peace. That peace is what has been my dearest ally and friend for many years. When I wake in the morning, I know peace is with me. When I go to bed at night, I sure don't watch the evening news or some horror flick. I go to bed with peace. When I wake in the middle of the night and turmoil tries to overwhelm me, I go to the scripture "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is STAYED on Me." Isaiah 26:3. I steer clear of conflict at all costs.

I know that peace is God’s will. That heavenly peace is a state of absolute tranquility right in the midst of what could be the worst situation. It speaks of comfort when life is extremely UN-comfortable. Fear can be lurking behind every corner, but a state of peace looks at fear and laughs at it.

That peace isn't something that comes and goes -- depending on our circumstances. The peace I'm talking about is "the governor" of our lives. I've heard "governor" used in describing a device that governs a machine or engine that is used to provide automatic control of speed, pressure or temperature. Honestly, peace is my governor. This kind of peace should GOVERN our lives in all things at all times. When the things of life disturb us — that stack of bills, a negative health report, the troubled relationship, anxious feelings of our own inadequacy -- is when we need to submit to the governor of peace.

Here’s the good news: We can have that kind of peace. Jesus told His disciples, "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 and do not be afraid." John 14:27.

The peace Christ gives is fully satisfying. It’s peace of mind, heart, body and soul. It’s contentment knowing that no matter what happens, we are in the care of the Almighty. Psalm 29:11, "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Lion + Bear + Big Dude = Promotion

I posted about David and his Giant, yesterday! Just wanted to add....a P.S. to that post!

David DID win that epic battle with Goliath, but God had prepared him in the trenches, in the “small” things. David was faithful to fulfill his responsibilities. David did anything God asked him to do. When he faced the lion and the bear, he didn’t cower in fear. He knew that God had called him to the sheep, and that God would be faithful to give him the victory. That's why his faith grew as he destroyed the lion and the bear. So when the BIG DUDE came along, David already knew HIS God would defeat that giant as well.

Moral of this story: "Be faithful in the little things (those seemingly insignificant responsibilities and jobs -- like David did as a shepherd boy), then God will make you ruler of much (PROMOTE YOU!)." Luke 16:10. David eventually became King David of Israel. The sheep we protect, lead and guide (you know.....those everyday duties and responsibilities); each lion and bear we slay (everyday issues, challenges and circumstances); and each giant we take down.....are ALL a part of God's Master Plan that leads us to our destiny and purpose! He's preparing us right now and fully equipping us to be the most epic GIANT SLAYER ever! So, BIG DUDE, move out of our way! We've got your number and you're going DOWN....and WE'RE MOVING ON UP!

We Will, We Will Rock You

Have you ever felt like your circumstances were looming over you like a huge GIANT who was fierce, beyond your capability, bigger than life, and he was throwing every negative word of doubt and unbelief, imaginable, your way -- taunting, harassing, smack talking -- and, your faith was challenged like crazy?

If that sounds like some things you're going through right now, then the story of David and Goliath, is worth thinking about. David faced the giant, Goliath, who was taunting, harassing....and even smack-talking young David and the armies of Israel. I Samuel 17:37 & 46 describes young David's attitude toward the giant "Who is this Philistine that he should defy the Lord my God?" "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down...." David didn't allow Goliath's size, or words, get in the way of what he knew his God could do through him. He took on Goliath with just his sling and a stone and the giant was destroyed. The giant, and everyone else, was saying “He’s too big to hit”, but David was saying “He's too big to miss!"

That story, and David's words, speaks loud and clear to me: "What is this giant that could defy the words of my God?" I shake off those words of defeat and loss and replace them once again with the words of the maker of heaven and earth and the maker and healer of our bodies and our circumstances -- God's Word that says in Luke 1:37 "For nothing shall be impossible with God."

Now, let's get fired up and with God’s words of faith as our sling & with Jesus as our Rock, we face our giants TODAY, and say.....“Move out of our way or .....WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU!"

Got Giants?

Got GIANTS?? Encounter any this week? I'm sure the answer is "Yes!". I sure did. It's just a fact, we all encounter some incredible giants from time to time. They seem so big and powerful, and they taunt us – doing their best to make us run in fear. Wouldn’t it be nice if what came our way was just a simple challenge with a simple solution? But often, our challenges are SUPER-sized – humongous in stature and seem insurmountable. The story of the little shepherd boy, David, shows how insignificant we can look and feel, yet with God’s power, we can do what an entire army can’t do…..SLAY A GIANT!
What is it that causes fear in your life? What situations terrify you and plague your thoughts in the night? What problems loom over or taunt you like giants? Essentially, all problems are the same ugly giant and all answers to the taunts of the giant are the same REAL answers. Our line of defense against any giant comes down to two questions: “Who is my God?” and “How big is my God?” The thing about God is that He's bigger than any problem we have. With His direction and guidance, we can come through the toughest of situations. The Bible sums it up by asking, "Is anything too hard for God?" Once we get that…..then we can speak with the authority and conviction that little David had with his giant…… “I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you!”

Now let’s go get some faith stones and load up our slings against the giants and let them know WHO we are and Whose we are, and WHERE they’re going!!