Is God Well Pleased with You?

I really want that "well pleased and beloved child" endorsement from God. You know the feeling if you’re a parent, grandparent, proud aunt, uncle or friend – and you love that one so much that you can’t help yourself. You exclaim "That one's mine! I am so proud of him/her.”

In our Gospel reading yesterday, we heard the second time when God’s booming voice declared “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5) This time it was at the transfiguration of Jesus. The first time it was at Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist when Father God's booming voice declared from heaven: "“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) We take after our Heavenly Father. He was a proud Papa and wanted the world to know He was proud of His boy. It was sort of like His birth announcement for His boy. He flung one colossal star in the sky to let us know that He was giving us mere mortals the STAR of the show!

With all my heart -- I want to hear “You are My beloved daughter” because I have brought God so much pleasure with my life. Those words about Jesus were obviously an endorsement by God the Father for His Son, Jesus Christ. But as we hear it again, hear it as an endorsement by God over YOUR life. Imagine if God announced you as “My beloved son or daughter.” The fact is: we are His beloved children. We are not His beloved slaves, or servants, or employees. We are His beloved children!

And here is the challenge for us: “Is our life measuring up to the phrase “with you I am well pleased”? We literally need to think of each action that we take during our day and ask ourselves, “What is God saying about me?” Is He taking pleasure over us when we acknowledge Him, when we sit at His feet and visit with Him, when we choose the fruit of the Spirit during our day (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and those times we put others before ourselves?

I have a feeling each time He says the same thing about us as He did His only and only Son "I am well pleased.” And when we fail and even sin, He is still saying “You are my beloved child” but He reminds us that we can do better. Daily, we should strive for hearing those words to us: "You are my beloved son or daughter. I am well pleased with you." I want to make Papa God proud. How about you?

No Place I Would Rather Be

I’m here in my sweet spot – with my two youngest grandsons while their dad and mom are away for a few days. The oldest here -- the handsome dude -- Monday chapel requires ties and jackets. Be still my heart! The youngest is home schooled so I get to step up and be his mama’s eyes and ears. I love it. I actually learn right along with him. I was never a lover of history but with this guy, I can get quite excited about how far we’ve come AND how far we still have to go!

As most know, I’m a daily blogger – so I have to find my quiet spots when I can to wrap my mind around what God would have me say for the next day. Quite often, it’s in those “hiding times” to be with God, my sweet little man interrupts my train of thought to ask me to come watch him climb (seen here – he can’t seem to help himself), or to help him clean out the chicken coop, or feed the other animals, or to watch him play a video game.

To be perfectly honest, sometimes, instead of being glad he popped into my quiet zone, I get a tad annoyed my time with God was interrupted. Then, as he pulls me away, my Heavenly Father whispers in my “spiritual” ears and reminds me “My dear daughter, this is not an interruption, but an illustration of My love, care and affection for you.”

Peace, joy, confidence, hope, faith and love all at once erupt in my heart, moving me closer to Christ. My Heavenly Father illustrated through an interruption what I was seeking all along: His loving presence. And along with it, came this blog.

Our lives are full of interruptions, from a phone call from a needy neighbor, bottle-necked traffice, a sick child, a flat tire, or an illness. These all look, sound and feel like interruptions, but with eyes of faith we have the ability to look beyond life’s interruptions and instead see illustrations of God’s love.

Interruptions can be appointments for compassion. Life may feel unfair, but in our everyday routine, we can recognize the Lord in the little things and love like Jesus. Interruptions represent people to love and be loved! Loving people is the business of Jesus’ followers. It may be a person in our immediate presence, or it could be someone in our peripheral vision, such as a restaurant server who needs to be included in our mealtime prayer. A doctor or nurse who cares for us, a loved one who needs to be encouraged, or a critic who doesn’t have the full story — they too need the gifts of our patience and grace.

Guess what I’m doing – I’m getting us ready for the holidays that are fast approaching. We’ll have many opportunities to look for illustrations of God’s hand in our work, our families and especially during the holidays. Maybe God's intent with interruptions ARE to slow us down, so we can better focus on receiving and giving God's love.

Happy Father's Day!

My blog today is dedicated to all the wonderful fathers, father figures, and male mentors who have touched the lives of your own kids, others’ kids, your family, and others you’ve mentored and coached. We appreciate you! And, for the rest of us, let's be sure to celebrate our fathers in words and actions. Our gratitude and love for them won't get received if we don’t express it to them in the first place. So, I’m taking my own advice and celebrating all the fathers on this Father’s Day!

Father’s Day brings precious memories and so much gratitude -- for my own sweet daddy who I only knew for 15 years and my precious husband, who I knew for 49 years on this side of heaven. They are celebrating this Father’s Day with “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”! Okay – they've certainly one-upped us on a grand celebration with the second-to-none Father. And Happy Father’s Day to my two incredible sons: Ryan Wuerch & Larry Wallace, amazing fathers who lead their families by God’s example to them. Thanks, and well-done, guys, for blessing me with my seven beautiful grandchildren and thank you for all the men and boys you coach and mentor!

Dads, in my opinion, you are the most powerful force in the lives of your children. Thank you for not being passive. Thank you for understanding and taking responsibility for your power. Thank you for being living examples of our Heavenly Father's love. Thank you for having real-life conversations with your boys and having date nights with your girls. Thank you for showing them and others what respect, honor, and integrity look like.

I recently saw this video of a great example of how to be involved with your children right from the get-go! The video went viral from the mom’s Facebook page now with 57 million views. It’s a simple and adorable conversation between a father and his 19-month-old, a terrific model of time well spent between a dad and his child.
https://www.facebook.com/…/videos/vb.20…/10101574620232282/…

Maybe today, you don’t even know your earthly father, or if you do, he may not have been very present in your life. Maybe, like me, your dad was with you for just a short period of time. Like mine, your dad wasn’t there to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day. Maybe your dad is still here and your relationship is and always has been strained.

Here’s the really good news for all of us on this Father’s Day. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much and wants us in His family. When we invite His Son into our lives, we get God’s DNA. It cannot be denied. We have a Father who is gracious, open and wants to know us. When we reach out, He welcomes us into His presence. He even has conversations with us through his Word and even in our intimate times with Him. So on this Father’s Day, no matter who your earthly father may be, I ask these simple questions: Do you know your Heavenly Father? Do you understand how much He wants to have a close and ongoing relationship with you? I pray that you will have a greater realization of your “heavenly” DNA. Knock on His door. I know He will invite you in for a Father's Day celebration like none other.

BFF! What Can I Do to Bring You Joy, Today?

I'm sure God loves when we come to Him in prayer, but usually, when we check in with Him, it is only to give Him our long prayer request and wish list. Can you imagine how He must feel when the only time we go to Him, it is only to present Him with our wants, desires, and needs? Then there are those who never ask anything of Him. They take pride in not having a “wish list”, but a “thanksgiving list”. God is such a good, good Father and He is receptive to each request we make and He loves our hearts of gratitude and thanksgiving. If we know He sees and hears us every time we pray and every time we come to Him with hearts of gratitude, can you imagine how He would feel if we visited with Him as truly our best friend who had wonderful friend-to-friend conversations with each other?

The idea of God as a friend doesn’t diminish the fact that He is our Heavenly Father. He is also our closest, best friend. I would never go to my best friend and just ask her for things and tell her what I need her to do for me. Neither would I incessantly thank her for being my friend. I would tune in to my friend’s heart and we’d mutually share about our families and what’s going on in our world. I’d ask her if there was anything I could do to help her.

God is our Friend Who is ALWAYS loving, caring, guiding and directing us, so maybe our conversations should start with “Lord, what can I do to bring You joy today?” That simple question will lead to answers. Here is how He answered me. I took a friend to lunch to encourage her. I heard His still small voice say: “This brings me joy.” Those words came from deep within. It confirmed that God was delighted by what I was doing. He saw something I didn’t. Perhaps it was the fact that I was encouraging His girl and building confidence in her. I’ll never know for sure, but I like to think I brought God joy and that was enough.

On another day, a friend messaged me. She was having a bad day and having to move out of her home immediately. I went to her, helped her pack and carry loads in my car for her. There it was again, an inner knowing that I brought God joy. It’s easy to assume that it’s the bigger things that bring God joy -- like telling someone about Jesus or changing the world. Certainly, these are beautiful in our Father's eyes, but these small moments matter to God, too.

As we begin our everyday conversations with God asking, “What can I do to bring You joy today?” our spiritual ears will open. We will discover that some of the smallest events of our day are actual miracles as we partner with God to love people.Coming to God as a friend as well as our Heavenly Father draws us into the wonderful relationship Paul talked about in Romans 5:11: “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

When we ask "What can I do to bring You joy today, Lord?" We just might be surprised at the answer.

John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Appreciate Rather Than Discriminate

Sitting on the patio while writing this post was the fruit of my labors yesterday, after an early morning seeing after the chickens, donkeys, goats, and longhorn. I’m always amused to see the donkeys and goats all bedded down in close proximity to each other at night but when it comes to feeding time, they want their own space. The donkeys come into the stall and I close the door behind them so they can relax in their own space. They eat in comfort and peace – away from those over-excited goats.

What’s hilarious is when the donkeys are through eating their grain and hay, one of them always opens the latch and they go out the door with a sense of satisfaction. The goats, on the other hand, also want their own space. The three Nubian goats are much larger than the five smaller, horned goats – yet the horned goats can be quite aggressive at meal time and they show their muscle and horns, to assure their reservation. They have attitude-plus! But at some point in the night, all 11 of them come together as “family”. I’m singing that song “We are FA-Mi-LY !”

That "picture" of family came to mind when I was enjoying that cloudy, cooler morning on the patio. I checked my email and read Dr. Jim Denison’s email for yesterday. His column began with “Racial discrimination is in today's news after the shooting of a teenager in East Pittsburgh. Religious discrimination has been in the news with the recent Masterpiece Cake Shop Supreme Court ruling. Gender-based discrimination has been much-discussed with Saudi Arabia's recent decision to allow women to drive. Discrimination is a fact of life in many cultures around the world. Now there's a new kind of discrimination in the news. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has served as President Trump's press secretary since July 2017. She made headlines over the weekend when she was refused service by a restaurant in Lexington, Virginia. The issue was not her race, her religious commitments, her gender, or her social or economic status. It had to do with her political positions. In her job, she explains and defends the president's beliefs and actions on various issues. Sanders was asked to leave the Red Hen specifically because the owner and some of her employees disagreed with some of these political positions.”

Discrimination isn’t new to our world. I remember how awful it was in the 60s when my brothers and sisters of color were discriminated against and were refused to eat and drink in various restaurants and water fountains and even to use "white" restrooms. History is riddled with discrimination. Even our Lord experienced the worst discrimination possible that nailed him to a cross. But in the midst of discrimination, Jesus spoke these words: “Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44) Who is our enemy? It’s easy to adopt the familiar us-versus-them distinctions, especially if we spend most of our time with those who agree with our religious, political, cultural, and value beliefs.

Yes, we are all different but we are all equally loved and treasured by our Heavenly Father. Every encounter we have with someone should be seen as an opportunity to get to know another member of the family of God. There really is common ground to be found. All these farm animals have an innate desire for belonging. I see it manifested in their togetherness at nighttime. In the chicken pen, (pictured here) are three camps: the older, egg-laying hens and rooster; the younger brood and rooster, and the two ducks. In the daytime, outside the coop, they hang out together in their own little circle of friends, but at nighttime, all the chickens share the comfort and protection of the coop and the ducks inside the fenced area of the coop. Those animals found common ground.

Common ground starts within us. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. We are all His children. We all have the same basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, education, and love. Apart from those common features, we share many similarities with others.

Dear Lord, please help us to appreciate rather than discriminate; to love rather than hate; to reconcile instead of debate. If your animal kingdom can share common ground, surely you can help your children to find common ground that moves us closer to the answer of your Son’s prayer: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:21

Living Like Royalty

I came from a middle class family. We didn't have much, but we had all we needed. We knew love -- but by no means did we know royalty and wealth, or the social graces that went along with it. But, then, one day, I came into a royal family.....the Family of God -- where now I'm UPPER class -- not as a result of merit or anything I earned, or was born into, but I was adopted into God’s marvelous Family. It was simply because I asked to come in, and because I believed in the Father's Son of this royal family, Who paid a hefty price for me to be welcomed into the family. I didn't have to pay my way in -- I just BELIEVED. And, guess what YOU'VE been invited into the FAMILY, too! The invitation goes out to "Whoever believes in HIM....."

I'm all grown up now, but there are no adults in the family. Father God only has children. Adults complicate things. They try to figure out what's next, how, why, where and when. Kids just say "Okay!" They just believe. I believed. Yesterday I put up my Christmas decorations and this little outdoor sign says "Believe". I know Santa is saying "Believe in me", or, no, maybe he's saying "Believe in God!" Father knows best and Father has everything under control. And, He keeps telling us to "Be like children" who just believe.

I was doing some holiday baking last week and, I had the Hallmark Channel on and I watched one of their sweet, tender, sappy and predictable-ending movies. This one was about some children whose Mom and Dad had died in an automobile accident and the very wealthy grandfather (who they had never met) asked them to come see him at his royal mansion in England. Once they were there, they had all the privileges that their lineage provided -- sitting at the Grandfather's table, eating the best of foods, wearing the royal clothes provided by the grandfather, being served by the maids and butlers. They didn't even know this Grandfather before, but all their lives, royalty was waiting for them. But, to live in the Grandfather's home, they had to change some of their rough ways. And they did, because they wanted to please the Grandfather. And when they pleased him, he just kept pouring on the blessings to them.

Once we come into the royal Family of God, we should have a hard time being disobedient children. If we daily make a purpose to NOT disappoint our Father, He'll keep pouring His blessings on us. If we abide in Him, and His Word abides in us, then we'll have a hard time messing up. We just don't want to take a chance on disappointing our Father.

But even when we slip up and disappoint Him, when we ask for forgiveness, His grace flows out to us. His nature IS love and grace. The man in the movie had to discipline those grandkids from time to time for being naughty. And there's also a judgment side to God, but if we obey Him, we'll never see it.

Today, our Heavenly Father has His arms open wide to His naughty or nice kids out there. He's ready to bless them. He's ready to invite them to sit at His royal table and feast and dine with Him. It's ours for the taking. Now let's throw our hands up in the air and shout out, "CHOOSE ME!"

1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us, is that it did not know Him."

When It’s Hard to Say (or Hear) “Praying for You”

Recently I found out not everyone appreciates it when we say the words "I'll be praying for you" or asking them to "Please pray for......" On this occasion, I was told "Since I don't pray, and know for certain that prayer doesn't work, I'd take it as a personal favor if those of you who simply can't resist exhorting me to do so, would cease e-mailing me. Right now would be good.” I surmised that that one was having a rough day for some reason, and I couldn't be silent.

OFirst I recommended that thinking good thoughts toward others would help if one doesn't want to pray. Then I told my story. "To the contrary, prayers do work. I am a widow and were it not for my prayers and the prayers of others, the calm and great peace from the outset of my husband's illness, to his passing to the strength and peace I continue to live in today, I wouldn't be here, or if I were, I'd be a most miserable human being. The fact is prayers work, but when we don't get the answer we want, often we conclude that there is no God or that God could care less. I discovered long ago that God isn't a divine Santa Claus or a genie in a lamp. And, He isn't a holy bellhop who jumps at our beck and call. God operates by His perfect will and our prayers are always subject to it. Many times I've prayed and didn't get the answer I wanted. He maybe responded with a "no or not now", but knowing Him as my Heavenly Father, I know He knows what's best for me. I have come to realize how God uses my pain and struggles to fashion me into being a more compassionate friend to others.

I had more to say, but most importantly, I started thinking even more about those words “I’ll pray for you,” and while it seemed to offend this person, maybe those who are fully devoted followers of Christ, may even be disappointed and hurting, and though those words may be kind, they can also sound like a cliché and an empty promise. Broken relationships, financial difficulties or the recent loss of a loved one, can cause even the most faithful to question if God loves them or even notices their circumstance. So, why do we offer to pray for others? Prayer is an invitation for us to share the Father’s heart with His children. He desires for each of His children to feel loved, cared for and encouraged. And, He can make Himself real in the moment for those who need to feel His touch through us.

Let’s face it - in our hearts we know God loves us and longs for us to turn to Him for the comfort and encouragement we need, but there are times when a Pity Party seems like the best place to go. But, it's those times, especially, that we should welcome others to pray for us. Maybe it's even a good idea to request for them to specifically ask God to help us begin to trust Him again. When someone offers to pray for us, let's appreciate their concern for us and welcome their prayers. In hope and faith, remember, “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” James 5:16. A one-minute prayer can move a moment filled with discomfort to a place of renewed trust in God’s comfort, love and healing ways.

So, whether or not you actually speak the words - “praying for you” - let’s remember that prayer is a powerful tool and it actually can bring peace and relief to a hurting heart. I know it -- from first hand experience. While we must consider how others feel about the phrase, it shouldn’t stop us from bowing our heads and lifting our worries, thoughts and concerns for one another to our loving Father.

By the way...."My FB friends -- I'm praying for you and I mean it. Lord, please bless, console, comfort, restore, heal, and renew my dear FB friends today. May they sense your loving arms around them. May they know how much You love them.....all the way to the cross.....and back. Amen"

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?
These days, it's almost impossible to have a meal or a focused conversation with someone without being interrupted by a phone call or text message. How does it make you feel to be having a nice conversation with someone, and then THEIR phone rings or dings that indicates a text message coming through, AND, without even a second thought, they leave you hanging while they answer their phone or text message? Ugh! And how do you feel if you're sitting at the dinner table with others and instead of carrying on conversation with you, you seem to be the only one at attention because the others are all checking their Facebook, Instagram or emails?

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones, AND I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others and being laser focused on others in their presence go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member. It's like going into a store -- you made the effort to go to the store and BE THERE, when the store's phone rings, and the sales clerk answers it and carries on a conversation with them, instead of honoring the fact that YOU ARE THERE!

The point was made ever so profoundly yesterday morning as I sat on my friend's lovely screened-in porch that overlooks the beautiful pond and fountain, sipping my coffee, worshipping and praising my Lord as I read my devotion book and scriptures, WHEN.....my phone dinged, alerting me to check out who just left a text message for me. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that's coming over later today, or one of my children or grandchildren needing me. Right? Oh, so WRONG! I was fully engaged in conversation with my Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth, My Creator, My Savior Who Gave His life for me, My Confidant, Healer and the King of all Kings....and I let myself be interrupted. Oh, and to make matters worse....while I was checking that ding, I just had to check my Facebook account and any emails that may have come in. Are you kidding ME? How could I be so inconsiderate? How could I be so unthoughtful? Suddenly, I was well aware of how rude and disrepectful I have been. Immediately, I heard God's tender and loving words "Heaven to Donna!!!! Could I have your undivided attention please?" While begging for forgiveness, I took the phone into the house and then went back to my Welcomed Guest and resumed my one-on-one with The Almighty! My goodness!

So let's do a Where's Waldo?" search. Where is the object in this photo that is used by the enemy to steal my alone time with my Best Friend, Father and my CEO? Oh, there it is.....smack dab in the middle.....instead of AWAY from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my ROYAL guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

Babies Make Love Songs Go to a Whole New Level

Day 5 in this Month of Love -- Babies Make Love Songs Go to a Whole New Level
Love songs went to a new level when our babies came into our lives. I didn't realize I had the capacity to love so deeply as I did when our baby boy was born. I knew I was looking through a mother's eyes who thought this child was a phenomenon -- the most gorgeous baby ever born. I was so in love with this little one who had done nothing to merit my love....except to just BE. Oh how I treasured holding and caressing him. I recall the intimate times of rocking him and singing lullabies to him. There was nothing to compare to his soft skin and that smell? Oh, there was no question -- it was heaven's scent. I had a love for him, and later my little girl.....and then my six grandchildren that unparalleled any love that I could have ever imagined. It was a love with no expectation of what they could do for me. They owed me nothing. They just WERE -- and that was good enough for me.

"For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17. This is my third day to post this verse. It brought all those sweet "baby" memories back to me and it gave new meaning on how much God loves us and even rejoices over us with joyful songs.

In that verse, God is singing because He rejoices over His children, delights in them and feels joy over them. The words of this verse remind us He is with us and delighting in us and loving us each so much that He sings melodies of love and rejoices over us. This delight is simply because we are His. And just as a mama’s voice calms and soothes a child with song, God quiets us with His love and soothes our hearts with His voice.

One of my favorite "baby/kid" song was Skidamarink: It went like this:
Skidamarink a-dink, a-dink,
Skidamarink a-doo, I love you. (2x)
I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon;
I love you in the evening,
And underneath the moon.
Oh, skidamarink a-dink, a-dink,
Skidamarink a-doo,
I love you.

You know what? I can picture our heavenly Father singing and rejoicing over His children (you and me) like that. Singing and rejoicing over us and singing "I love you in the morning and in the afternoon and in the evening. I LOVE YOU ALL THE TIME!"

As parents, we sing over our babies because we love them, not because they deserve it or can do anything for us in return. They bring delight to our hearts, because they are ours. And the same goes for our Heavenly Father when it comes to His own.

God’s quiet love and gentle whispers of acceptance and delight are the greatest love song our spiritual ears will ever hear.

Maybe if we'll find a quiet place to listen....we just may feel His embrace and hear Him singing His love song to us right now!
#LoveSong #Loved

Worry Less; Smile More Often

Worry Less; Smile More Often
I've posted this photo before, but it is such a powerful reminder of the childlike faith and trust that we all need so much. I just had to share it again for you AND me.

Don't you just love watching a baby sleeping? His/Her adorable little smiles that just indicate their satisfied, care-free existence. Life was worry-free when we were kids and when we had parents who were bigger and stronger than us and were the answer to all our needs and wants.

But for us -- all grown up with lots of responsibilities, cares and concerns, there's certainly plenty for us to worry about. Income tax returns (just started getting my records together), identity theft (some pranksters put fraudulent charges in my bank account), too much month left and too little funds to make it through, who our next president will be (Dear Lord, help us!), or a medical report that wasn't so positive (Had those, too!)

But, even more loving and caring than our parents when we were kids, is our loving and caring Heavenly Father who wants to help us "worry less and smile more often". As God's children, should we worry and fret? Would He teach us to walk, to watch us fall? Would He give us life, to watch us fail? Would He be nailed to the cross and then disregard our prayers?

Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us -- so let's purpose to WORRY LESS and, by the way....SMILE MORE OFTEN! Smile a while and give your face a rest. Let the world know, you know Who's got all the stuff in your life and in the world under control. Smiling could just possibly be the magnet that attracts the people, circumstances, and things you need to succeed and overcome all that is trying to pull you down. I think that's exactly how our DAD wants us to live -- complete trust in His wise and sovereign ways that ensure we are in His loving care.

What's the Balance in YOUR Praise Bank?

Day 346 of Photo Inspirations -- What's the Balance in YOUR Praise Bank?
Yesterday was a big "I-praise-You-and-thank-You-God kind of day. I noticed it.  I noticed Him.  I acknowledged Him throughout my day.  It was a beautiful, glorious day outside.  It was 75 degrees in Tulsa. "Thank you, God, for this beautiful day."    I drove into the gas station and filled my car up at $1.58/gallon.  "Thank you, God, for that blessing.   I went to an early morning sale and got $10 off a $30 sale.  Thank you, God, for that blessing.  I'm healthy and strong, so I praised Him.  I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do know that my praising is like putting praise tokens into God's Praise Bank for those days that may be dreary and lots of not so praise-worthy things happening.

When my husband and I gave Marriage Seminars, one of the illustrations we used for kindness to each other was "putting love tokens in the LOVE Bank".  The basic premise is that inside of us we each have a “love bank".  When our spouse or anyone treats us well, then they are making a deposit into our love bank and we feel closer, more appreciative and more loving toward that person.  But when we're treated poorly, made to feel unappreciated and taken for granted, then love tokens are withdrawn from our account and we feel less close to them -- even less trusting of them.  If the withdrawals exceed the deposits, then our love bank account balance goes "in the red" with a negative account balance.

I started thinking...."What if God had a Praise Bank?" -- a bank that when we praise Him (even sacrifices of praise when it's not so easy to do), when we are kind, loving and generous, love and praise tokens would be deposited into our account.  Oh, I know, God's mercies are ever flowing in spite of our good and bad attitudes.  If an earthly dad sees his kids being sweet, kind, loving and tender -- especially when the kids show real appreciation for everything he does for them,  keeps a record of those things, why wouldn't our Heavenly Father take pleasure in those praiseworthy things too?   On the other hand, when we grumble and complain and are ornery, unforgiving, unappreciative and cranky about every little thing, I can just imagine that our Praise Bank starts to get depleted.  The question is...."What's the balance in OUR Praise Bank?"  

Bottom line....living a life of praise is not only the most enjoyable way to live, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to change our life. Praise isn’t like the caboose that just follows what happens, but it’s more like the engine of a train that makes things happen.  Our faith isn’t complete without praise. Colossians 2:7 says that you "abound in faith with thanksgiving". No thanksgiving equals not abounding in faith.  Praise touches everything and every part of our life. Likewise, a lack of praise affects us in a negative way.

I know that I'm going to make some praise and thanksgiving deposits today and throughout this Advent/Christmas season.  How about you?

All Grown Up, But Still a Kid

Day 318 of Photo Inspirations -- All Grown Up, But Still a Kid
I came from a middle class family.  We didn't have much, but we had all we needed.  We knew love -- but by no means did we know royalty and wealth, or the social graces that went along with it.   But, then, one day, I came into a royal family.....the Family of God -- where now I'm UPPER class -- not as a result of merit or anything I earned, or was born into, but I was adopted into this marvelous Family of God.  It was simply because I asked to come in, and because I believed the Father of this royal family has a very special Son, Who paid a hefty price for me to be welcomed into the family.  I didn't have to pay my way in -- I just had to believe in HIS royal family.  And, guess what YOU'VE been invited into the FAMILY, too!  The invitation goes out to "Whoever believes in HIM....."

By the way, I'm all grown up now, but there are no adults in the family. Father God only has children. Adults complicate things.  They try to figure out what's next, how, why, where and when.  Kids just say "Okay!"  They just believe.  I believed.  Stuff happens.  No problem.  My Father has everything under control.  And, He keeps telling us to "Be like children" who just believe.

I was doing some holiday baking on Thursday and, like I do from time-to-time, while I'm cooking, I'll have the Hallmark Channel on and I watch one of their sweet and tender movies.  This one was about some children whose Mom and Dad had died in an automobile accident and the very wealthy grandfather (who they had never met) asked them to come see him at his royal mansion in England. Once they were there, they had all the privileges that their lineage provided -- sitting at the Grandfather's table, eating the best of foods, wearing the royal clothes provided by the grandfather, being served by the maids and butlers.  They didn't even know this Grandfather before, but all their lives, royalty was waiting for them.  But, to live in the Grandfather's home, they had to change some of their rough ways.  And they did, because they wanted to please the Grandfather.  And when they pleased him, he just kept pouring on the blessings to them.

Once we come into the royal Family of God, we should have a hard time being disobedient children. If we daily make a purpose to NOT disappoint our Heavenly Father, He'll keep pouring His blessings on us.  If we abide in Him, and His Word abides in us, then we'll have a hard time messing up.  We just don't want to take a chance on disappointing our Father.

Still, I have disappointed Him.  But when I did, His grace flowed out to me.  His nature IS love and grace. It's going to be Christmas in just a few weeks, and if we gave our kids a gift, we would never want them to turn to us and say, "What do I owe you for this?"   No, we would simply say to them, "I so love you and want to bless you."

The man in the movie had to discipline those grandkids from time to time for being naughty.  And there's also a judgment side to God, but if we obey Him, we'll never see it.  There's a judgment side to us, but if our kids obey us, they'll never see that judgment.

Today, our Heavenly Father has His arms open wide to His naughty or nice kids out there.  He's ready to bless them.  He's ready to invite them to sit at His royal table and feast and dine with Him.  It's ours for the taking.  Now let's throwt our hands up in the air and shout out, "CHOOSE ME!"

1 John 3:1  "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us, is that it did not know Him."

Babe Magnet Captures This Babe

Day 3 of 365 days of "Seizing the Moments" in photos this year.

What could be closer to our Heavenly Father than the purity and preciousness of a baby? This little angel was across the aisle from me on my flight from Seattle to Dallas today. His shirt said "Babe Magnet" on it. He was. He captured my heart and drew me to him the entire trip. I haven't had a guy flirt with me like that in a very long time. LOL. He was a happy and peaceful baby all the way which made everyone around him fall in love with him, too.

As I watched the pride and joy that his daddy had in Him, I thought about the pride and joy we must bring to our Heavenly Father. This little charmer on the plane today was so loved by his daddy and that love was in no way performance-based. That little guy couldn't do anything on his own, to merit any more love than he already had from his daddy.

Did you know the love our Father has for us isn't performance-based either? We can't do enough to settle the score, to merit His favor, or to deserve the ultimate price of love He paid for us. He loves us just because we are His kids, the sheep of His pasture, His pearls of great price, the apples of His eyes. There is no gift we could ever give Him that could repay His love, except for one gift. We can give him ourselves, totally and utterly devoted to Him.

I think I'll slip on my "God Magnet" shirt so my devotion to Him keeps on making Him smile big at me as I bring Him pride and joy.