Soaring Above it All

I saw this photo on a friend's FB post about her recent vacation. Right away a blog started forming in my head. Her FB comment was: “Oh, today, let’s be adventurers! Feel the wind and fly.” Obviously, she and her husband took her words to action. I commented on her post: "I love that! I sense that’s a word from God telling us to rise above anything that is keeping us earthbound. He will carry us above all as we place our trust in Him. God gives us wings as eagles to fly and strength to rise above it all. When our feet begin to stumble and our dreams begin to crumble, we mount up on eagle’s wings. Instead of doubt and fear, we get adventurous!! Count me in!"

Their adventure reminded me of my parasailing two years ago while in Zihuatanejo, Mexico for my son’s birthday celebration (2nd photo here). It looked like a cinch to me to be strapped into the harness and take to soaring behind the boat. But, I missed an important detail: “Sit back in the harness.” I didn’t and for the entire experience, I prayed and held on for dear life hoping I wouldn’t fall out of it. It felt so loose. I wouldn’t have fallen out, but still my mind wasn’t on soaring but staying locked in.” Indeed, it was an adventure for me.

No matter whether we’re walking on water with Peter (yesterday’s blog), earthbound and never flying in an airplane or a para-sail or jumping from an airplane in a parachute – there is no 100% guarantee that we will arrive safely to our destination. We don't know the equipment, the pilots and, as trained and skilled as they are, they just can't predict everything. Then what about the potential wackiness of other passengers on an airplane? With bombs found in shoes and bags, everyone is suspect when boarding a plane. The reality is that many things can go wrong and, despite the airline's stellar track record, and parachutes and para-sails working properly -- history has proven that bad things can happen.

Still, I fly. Still I para-sail. Still I raise my hand “Pick me!” when offered an adventure. And, the same is true about my faith. Like that enormous aircraft getting off the ground -- my faith even defies human logic. We are told our Savior is one who died, then came back to life. How can that be possible? But I BELIEVE. We're asked to trust God Who we can’t even see. But when we do, and we put our lives in His hands and have faith that His flight plan is the best course for us, we arrive safely at our faith destination -- fulfilling our destiny and purpose.

We were handcrafted by our Creator to soar far above this earth, going to places that would be impossible to go under our own power and doing things we never imagined. If we let go of inhibitions and fears, we can expect a faith journey of soaring high above this earth's worries and concerns, and, He guarantees 100% ON-TIME arrival! WOW! That's a record that can't be beat! Come, fly with me!

They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back

They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back
For those who have followed the tales of my dove family who took up occupancy on my fireplace vent on my patio several weeks ago, I'm pleased to report the babies are on their own and have left the nest. I couldn't check on them until Monday morning since I had been away for a week and didn't get home until Sunday night. The nest was empty so I knew they had finally learned to fly and had left the nest. I saw the poop and debris left behind and determined to get out my super-powered cleaning solution and remove the nest and all the other gunk. But to my surprise, as I sat on my patio, I saw the "teenagers" (Yikes! I was surprised to see, how in just a week's time, they had grown so much!) come back home. I'm acting like a proud grandmother because I couldn't help but show you their photo! LOL! They must have remembered the kind homeowner who checked on them daily, and they were fine with my visit. I am unceasingly amazed at God’s creation.

Of course, the spiritual and natural connotations hit me in these tender moments. All of us develop, mature and become confident enough to leave the "nest" where we were nurtured and where we developed the sense of being able to make it in this world on our own. Maybe it was when we went to college or joined the armed forces, or got married, or were simply ready to tackle the world on our own. But, like those birds, many of us enjoy going back home for a while. We need that cozy, warm, safe place where we didn't have to make our own way. There were hugs and cheers and encouragement when we went home, and for many of us, we needed much more than just a short visit, we needed to stay a while and regroup and rethink where we'd go from here. We needed to get our confidence back.

Our relationship with God is similar to the birds AND us returning to our nests. Oftentimes, we're strong, making it just fine on our own, handling life and all that it throws at us. But then there are those times of disappointment, discouragement, fear and these strong spiritual beings find ourselves languishing and we need a pep talk and a shoulder to cry on and the familiarity of someone we love and trust to wrap their arms around us and tell us "Everything's gonna be alright!" We can count on our loving Father every time for that assurance, but after a little coddling, He gives us a nudge out the door (or the nest) to resume as the strong, determined, full-of-faith children He raised us to be. St. Paul said it like this: "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

God gave us everything we need to be strong, mature, powerful and empowered overcomers in this life. He gave us every tool, every promise, every key we need for success through the cross of Christ and His Word. Romans 8:29 says "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." God lovingly welcomes us to return to His nest when we need a refresher on how much He loves and cares for us, but His Gospel message brings more than good news to us. It bids us to fly AND it gives us wings to do so!

Wonder Woman Could Fly; Eagles Can Fly, If They Try, and So Can You and I

As a private pilot, I know that before I could get my pilot's license, I had to take many hours of "ground" school first -- to learn everything I needed to know about the airplane, what makes it fly, the weather, distance measurement and so much more. The more I had to be in ground school, the more I wanted to get in that airplane on my own and fly. I was discontented with staying "grounded"! I wanted to fly!

Speaking of flying, you would think my daughter was a Wonder Woman junkie by her over-the-top excitement to see the new Wonder Woman, especially after she saw the trailers and was moved to tears with passion. Some would think she is a fanatic about action heroes and sci-fi, but no, it's so much greater than that. This little girl that we named Staci (which means "resurrection life") has so much life in her that she truly believes she is a Queen Esther or a Wonder Woman with a "for such a time as this" mandate from God. As much as I have always known God has a call on her life to make a difference in this world, something is stirring in her today that takes her desires to a whole new level. I'm seeing it in her walk, her talk and her dissatisfaction for the status quo.

I went over to their house yesterday morning, and her energy level was running at Mach speed, exploding with the details of a dream she had last night, wearing her Wonder Woman t-shirt, and stoked about seeing the movie, it didn't really surprise me a bit. As I watched the movie with them and saw Wonder Woman's absolute passion and drive to save humanity, I understood my Staci's heart and passion. I won't be a spoiler if you haven't seen the movie, but it may be one that you consider seeing, but if you watch it as just another good action movie, then you're missing my point in sharing this post with you today.

We all have the opportunity to live way above the mediocrity of watching the news 24/7 for our daily boost of energy, or rather our daily boost of depression. Like Wonder Woman AND Staci, we can purpose to get ourselves on a higher frequency. A frequency of passion to make a difference, a passion to pray for Wonder Men and Women who say, "Pick me!", "Empower me!", "Give me wings to fly like an eagle!" I don't know about you, but I want to live in a zone that takes me to a place of "I am here this day and this time for a purpose, to be on purpose.....to help save humanity, too! Here I am, Lord! Send me. Use me. Teach me. Push me. Make me uncomfortable with pecking with the chickens. I am ready to mount up my wings like an eagle....and fly!"

Please watch and listen to this short video that Staci recorded yesterday about "staying grounded with the chickens" or "spreading your wings to fly like an eagle" and get started on your "flying" ground school today -- in the post below this one!

Mr. Do BEE

Who remembers the TV Show, “Romper Room”? I’m sure you “under forties” don’t – but it was one of my childhood favorites – many moons ago – LOL! And, on the show, I remember Mr. Do-Bee, an oversized bumblebee who gave good manners tips. He would say something like: “Do Bee good boys and girls for your parents!” And there was also “Mr. Don’t Bee” to show kids what NOT to do. Well, here’s the REAL deal about bumblebees, according to the laws of physics. It is impossible for Mr. Bumble Bee to fly, because he doesn’t generate enough lift with his tiny wings, given the weight of his body. But, guess what! It just doesn’t matter what the laws of physics say -- when Mr. Bumble Bee’s Creator, God, says “DO bee!” The bee just DOES. He DOES fly – against all odds.

Maybe you’re facing some challenges that seem virtually impossible – and the laws of physics (or the naysayers in your world) say “It’s not possible for you to……” like those tiny wings of a bumblebee. Maybe, in your world, there’s some financial setbacks or health issues or relationships that have been labeled….”IMPOSSIBLE”! DON’T Bee a doubter and an unbeliever! Be like the BEE – though “THEY” say it can’t be done. God says “IT CAN BE DONE!” God just might be whispering in your ear…“DO Bee a believer that says “Nothing is impossible with God!” Go ahead. Show them... YOU CAN FLY!!!

Lent Means Course Correction

What you may not know about me is that I’m a Private Pilot. So I have a little extra help with the notion of “I believe I can fly”. We had a single engine Cessna 182 – a sweet ride. We logged many hours flying across this great country. Though I haven’t flown in a while, I remember some crucially important things that ensured landing where, and when, we intended. Wind speed and wind direction requires course corrections throughout the flight. A strong wind can certainly take you off course. Constant “tweaking” is necessary. All it takes is to be off just a few degrees and you can end up in Timbuktu, instead of the intended destination.

And isn’t that true in our own lives? Our emotions, our bodies, and our spirits may get off course by “negative winds” that we’ve let come in. They may have come in by the company we keep, the food choices we’ve made, some unhealthy habits, some compromising of our ethics and integrity, or literally missing the mark. Perhaps, it’s time for tweaking and correcting our course. The winds can certainly slow us down, and take us completely off course -- not to mention keep us from receiving the blessings that could have been ours if we were on track. Tomorrow, the Lenten season begins -- the 40 days that precedes the passion of Christ and Easter -- the time we deliberately focus our attention on getting it right – getting our hearts right. It’s the perfect time to make course corrections – where we make the adjustments necessary to be fully devoted followers of Christ. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. I promise you….this is the stuff that helps us fly higher than we’ve EVER flown before.

I Believe I Can Fly -- If Dumbo Can -- So Can I

Yesterday, I posted "I believe I can fly!" Let's take it a step further. Do you remember Dumbo -- the Disney character that had huge ears? Other elephants ridiculed him, until he met Timothy Mouse that changed his perspective. Timothy convinced Dumbo that his little feather had magical powers that could turn his ears into wings. He created a sense of hope and expectation in Dumbo that was missing. The more Dumbo BELIEVED "anything is possible", the more Dumbo was convinced he could fly. Finally, despite the voices of opposition from the crows, Dumbo rose to the challenge and elevated his faith with courage. He turned his doubt into faith and turned those huge ears into an asset that helped him fly.

What changed for Dumbo? That brilliant little mouse helped Dumbo see that the power to fly begins in the belief that it's possible to fly. And the same with us -- when our hope rises, so does our perspective.

And what about you? What are the "ears" or "voices" that might be the cause for your discouragement, rejection or weakness? The voices of others who say you can't, or the voice of Father God -- that voice of TRUTH and FAITH, that says "With God, all things are possible"? With those "ears", we can rise above our challenges, our past, and those voices of opposition. Dumbo could fly. I believe I can fly…..AND I believe YOU can, too!

I Believe I Can Fly -- Come Fly With Me!

God really wants us to fly! He wants us to fly free of yesterday's fears, guilt, disappointments and frustrations. He wants us to fly free of today's anxieties. He wants us to fly free of tomorrow's concerns. God moves mountains and He promises to answer our prayers. That's what He promises in Matthew 21:24 "If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer!" So come fly with me....above the earth-bound circumstances, and let's soar with the eagles to that place of great hope and live with the expectation that "Something good is about to happen to me today!"