A Bison, a Dumb Idea and a God-Idea

While having lunch at my home on Sunday, my kids told me this story. Last Wednesday, a 54-year-old woman motorcyclist was attacked by a bison in South Dakota when she sat in the grass to take a photo of a mother bison and her calf. She got way too close to the little family and another bison (maybe the dad bison) charged at the woman, hooked its horns into the belt loops of her jeans and flung her around in the air for a few seconds. The sheriff said the woman was "apparently saved when her pants came off and she fell to the ground unconscious." At that point, the sheriff said the attacking bison ran off with the rest of the herd. I understand she survived the attack – thank God! The gal who filmed the incident, posted this: “Please, please, please feel free to share this, so people understand they’re about to die when they confront an animal this powerful.”

Then, I remembered a similar story and asked my daughter if she remembered when she was about four years old, standing a distance away when her daddy and I had grabbed hold of a young calf to castrate him. The mama cow, rather than attacking us – went after Staci and, with her head, begin to bounce Staci in the air. Thankfully, Staci held onto her ears like riding a bucking bronco. Her daddy turned and kicked the cow who released our girl. It was a scary sight. Staci remembered.

I thought about those two incidents and how we MUST be watchful of everything we do that could give a foothold into our lives by the enemy of our souls. That’s why Godly wisdom is so important to our success in life. Proverbs 4:6-7 says: "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding."

If anyone could speak to us about the snares, traps and lies of the enemy of our souls it was the Apostle Peter. Remember the many mistakes he made because of not recognizing he was a target of Satan? Peter was already in-the-making to be mightily used by God, so of course the enemy wanted to keep him from his destiny. Peter warned us with this: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Peter understood who it was that tricked him into denying Christ, to cut off the soldier’s ear, to cower behind others. Peter goes on to tell us how to defeat the enemy. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9

Wisdom, Holy Spirit’s voice and good old common sense is with us to keep us from making really dumb mistakes like playing around with wild animals or getting ourselves into compromising situations or simply choosing what we know God wants us to avoid. I really believe that God is leaning in close to His kids today to give us His wisdom for successfully living a victorious life in Him. As He leans in, may we lean in closer to Him to hear His voice and know His ways that will surely keep us safe, sound, and successful.

1 Kings 2:3 “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

It Only Takes a Spark to Get a Fire Blazing

This photo of Bryson, my youngest grandson, was taken one year ago on April 11th. He was with his family touring Austin with their best friends and they came across this lovely property which included these cute, harmless goats and my grandson loved them then, and even more today. Now they are his. It was that day that the spark of moving to Austin was ignited in my kids. Here we are -- one year later, with them living in that home in Austin. Who knew that, on that day, the spark would start burning until it became a blaze? A good idea was really a God-idea!

Do you remember the ALS ice bucket challenge and how it went viral? IT started as a spark and became a huge fire. The challenge helped raise awareness for ALS. It started with one person and it grew from there. It grabbed the hearts of celebrities, organizations, and everyone in between. Since July 29, 2014, The ALS Association collected over $220 million globally because of that challenge. One of my favorite quotes is from Margaret Mead which says: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

All it takes is for one person to spark a positive change. You and I can have a good idea and it can become a great idea -- even a God-idea.....and even go viral. A dream, like the one my kids had, can become a reality. Whenever we determine to live in a state of hope and expectation, creativity is revealed and God's voice giving us wisdom becomes clear -- we know what to do and when to do it.

Rather than siding in with the negative voices that limit growth, determination and change -- why not be a change-maker and world changer?

My prayer is that God sparks a fire in you and me. I pray He starts a fire in our souls. I pray that He fans the flame and makes it grow so there’s no doubt or denying -- it is His idea and we should pursue it. I pray that He lets it burn so brightly that everyone around can see that it’s Him that we need. Our God is the fire. He is the flame. He is the light on the darkest day. I pray for all of those that need our Lord now and that will soon know Him in a real and intimate way.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it. You spread His love to everyone. You want to pass it on.

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Grateful to Be Changing the World

Day 31 of Photo Inspirations -- Grateful
Grateful is what my heart feels today as I've seen the dream of my precious husband come true -- a dream that we prayed for every day.  The prayer went something like this "that our family be closely knit together in all areas of life".  Before then, our children -- each talented and tremendously successful in their own ways --  were going down different paths in life.  My husband, Ron, would say -- "If those kids of ours would ever merge their gifts together -- they could change this world."

After he went to heaven, the next year Ryan conceived an idea that had the potential of making the difference in millions of people's lives, and Staci and Larry came together with him and Shawntel -- and since then, indeed, they are changing this world -- and so is this Mama -- because I locked arms with them in this amazing story of impacting this world with such good news.  We've been going strong for almost three years because a "God-idea" became a force to be reckoned with.

Last night, I watched my kids standing side-by-side because of an achievement that Staci made in Solavei -- as the first Presidential Director, who brought in and leads a team of tens of thousands of people in Solavei -- from the entire United States mainland to Puerto Rico (that, of itself, is going gangbusters).

As the first Presidential Director, Staci received a beautiful Mercedes.  It was a tremendous time of celebration and a monumental moment that showed her heart, her hard work, her ability to lead a huge team of leaders, as well as being able to celebrate the thousands and thousands who have had tremendous blessings in their lives -- from getting free mobile service to those who earn thousands of dollars a month -- all because we believe we are on a mission to make life better for many.
 
I have this family photo to show that dreams do come true -- that diligence in hard work and belief in "nothing is impossible with God" combined with audacious, faith-filled prayers are answered -- IN A BIG WAY!   Yes, I am so grateful!