Take Heart, Brothers & Sisters, All is Well

How do I know all is well? It is a deep, inner knowing that God has got this. God has got us. I'm back at home and this sunrise on Tuesday assured me "all is well". I could almost hear these words audibly "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) All is well!

It’s a brand new day with potential and possibilities! It’s a brand new day to posture ourselves with a can-do-anything, all-is-well mindset. We can purposely leave the remains of yesterday behind with an optimistic "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13) attitude for this new day. When we slip on our houseshoes or athletic shoes or even go barefoot and step out on our back porch, our patio or our sidewalk, we can inhale this new day with faith and determination. If we listen closely, we'll hear those words again that give us new hope for this brand new day. "All is well."

In real time, we may feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, but take heart -- all is well. If God be OUR Almighty God, our supreme authority and our all-knowing, all loving, omnicient One, then we must make the decision to believe it and trust Him.

We are in good company. The Bible goes to great lengths to show us that all the people on its pages were ordinary, average "Joes". Yes, let's look at two Joes: 1) Joseph, the youngest of ornery, jealous brothers and the beloved son of his father, Jacob. This "Joe" took heart. In spite of a pit and a prison, he succeeded to a palace when he became the Governor of the land and ultimately took care of his entire family. 2) Another "Joe" -- Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus who could have divorced his pregnant fiancee, but instead, took heart, and stayed to love and care for Mary and Jesus. So many other characters in the Bible who trusted even though they were drenched in fear and hopelessness.

Many others in the Bible took heart and conquered because God filled them up with His Holy Spirit and breathed life into their dreams and their plans, and God, through ordinary people who did ordinary things, made miracles happen that changed the world for good. And, WE are the Bible people of today in these times and the same Holy Spirit breathes life into our dreams and our hopes and our plans so that we too will accomplish great things..

Take heart, brothers and sisters! All is well. Breathe deeply. Do your part. Fight the good fight. Offer grace. Love. Work for justice. Move with mercy. Be kind. Keep your focus. Keep moving forward. Keep looking up. Keep offering up every little thing in your ordinary life to the God of good things and miracles and hope.

I Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda
You know those words: “I should have done that but", “I would have been been that but" or “I could have gone there but…..” Should -- Would -- Could are words I’ve determined to get out of my vocabulary this year because they represent the past and that past is behind me. Or they represent hesitation to move forward.

I posted that I chose the word “contentment” this year as my word of the year to focus on and maintain. But yesterday a new thought occurred to me: What word am I not going to choose this year? I’m going to take the “shoulds” off the table because I want to wake up each morning and have a true purpose in this new day. I want to take on projects and activities and be able to say “yes” to opportunities that open the door to new friendships and new adventures. That’s why I’m volunteering at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children where I meet precious children, families, co-volunteers, and medical personnel. In fact, I met a co-volunteer yesterday that inspired me with her energy and zeal. I could be saying, I shoulda volunteered, but instead, I’m saying “I’m sure glad I did.”

I’ve also signed up for a couple of “field trips” to historical places to visit here in the Dallas area. I remember a friend of mine coming to Dallas last year with a group and her describing the interesting places that I had never visited in my city and I thought -- “I should have gone to those places by now!” No more “shoulds”. I don’t know anyone going on these upcoming field trips, but I’m going to get out and about and meet new friends and make the most out of it.

I said “Yes” to being on an advisory group at my church. Instead of being a “shrinking violet” I’m going to use my skills and talents to hopefully benefit this group with my knowledge and training.

When we take the ‘shoulds’ off the table, we find out why we’re really waking up in the morning with a true purpose and intent on forgetting the past and making the most of each new day. Instead of saying I should do this. I should do that. I shouldn’t feel this way, I'm going to make statements like “I will do this. I will do that. I will not have those feelings.”

I thought “What can replace the ‘shoulds’ in my life?” It came to me that gratitude is what belongs in my heart and on my lips. For example, I took a nap the other day and when I woke up I thought “I should have finished inputting those records.” Then I came to myself and whispered, “Thank you, God, for that nap gift. I must have really needed it.” I got up and finished my work.

‘Should, would, could in my life are trickster and fibber words. I have decided that I won’t be speaking their names this year. Instead, I’m choosing, “I will, I can, I am”. I choose to live with no regrets because there isn’t a thing we can do about the past. We can lament a missed opportunity for years that can weigh down our hearts like a steel anchor. “If I had only…” has nothing to do with talent; it is simply the result of courage or procrastination.”

Those people – the shoulda coulda woulda folks – are not you and me. We are destined to leave an indelible mark on the world, as long as we have the will to make it happen. We’ll never know what we are truly capable of until we unleash our passion and give ourselves permission to go, do, be creators. I don’t know about you, but when I get to the end, I hope I’ll have more battle scars and fewer regrets. May we seize the day and never, never, ever be a shoulda, coulda, woulda.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

I Am a Promise and a Possibility!

I directed a Children’s Choir many years ago, and I’ll never forget the joy of teaching them songs that not only spoke of God’s love for them but those that caused them, when they sang the words, to be speaking great affirmations over themselves. My own two children, at ages around 10 and 8, were in that choir. Not only did we sing in church, but we were invited to sing for community events. I like to think we were THAT GOOD, but more than likely, we were a novelty – adorable kids singing their little hearts out about God and His love.

One of my favorites and the crowd’s favorite was the fun, cheery and affirming children’s song, “I Am a Promise.” With that catchy tune and lyrics, we just couldn’t go wrong – especially with the cuteness of children – waving at their moms and dads, swaying and twisting and using hand gestures as they sang. "I am a promise/I am a possibility/I am a promise with a capital P/I am a great big bundle of potentiality/And I am learning to hear God’s voice/And I am trying to make the right choices/I’m a promise to be/Anything He wants me to be……./I can go anywhere that He wants me to go/I can be anything that He wants me to be/I can climb the high mountains/I can cross the wide sea/I’m a great big promise, you see!”

As those sweet kids belted out those lyrics about how they can do anything, they were feeding their little souls and spirits with words that ignited a flame inside them. I just know it. Today those kids are in their 40s and 50s. I suspect that most of those kids have kids of their own, and I also suspect that they may be teaching that song to their kids -- at least I hope, and if it's not that song, other songs and words about how they have so much potential to accomplish anything they set their hearts to.

My children, as well as many friends of mine, pray for their children’s future spouses from an early age. Is that a waste of time and effort – after all, they may be very young children? Or is it the absolute, most ROCK-solid thing to be doing -- instilling faith into our kids and guaranteeing that our children's choices will be God's choices?

It's a new school year and it is our responsibility as parents and grandparents to input potential and possibility into our children as they embark on another year of being influenced by other children, teachers, and others who catch their eyes and hearts.
Throughout life, they will encounter people who will tell our kids AND us that we can’t do things. Many folks have grown so bitter and disappointed through the years, and they have lost their hope and vision, so they want us to lose ours as well. They don’t feel like a bundle of potentiality, so they don’t want anyone else to feel like one either!

This post today is to inspire you “Don’t listen to naysayers. Listen to God. If He has called you to climb a mountain, cross a sea, teach a class, sing a song, make a speech, build a bridge, write a book, fly a plane, land a plane and even jump out of a plane -- then JUST DO IT. Make this your personal slogan: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. Be “I CAN” and “YOU CAN” do anything kind-of-parents and grandparents and friends. After all, we are all “great big bundles of potentiality”!

Faith Talk

Yesterday I posted "Keep your words soft and sweet....because tomorrow you might have to eat them". That is so true, and to take it a step further.... keeping our words positive and encouraging is equally as important to us and to others. People often ask me "What's the secret to all that energy and enthusiasm you have?" The answer is "Faith Talk". I practice it regularly. Actually, like others, there's always reasons to complain, be discontented, to worry, to feel rejected, misunderstood, or to be sad. But, oh my goodness, there's so many more reasons to turn those negative thoughts and words on their heels, and replace them with those affirmative, positive, life-changing words that have the potential of altering the course of my day, my family and friends' day, too. Our words become thoughts, thoughts become actions AND attitude.

The words we use, whether it’s when speaking with others or the self talk that we say to ourself, impact our thoughts and our thoughts greatly affect our actions. And when we take that one step further, we’re reminded that our actions become our habits. In other words, our habits begin with our self talk and what we say to others.

Choosing "Faith Talk" over "I Can't" talk moves us into a "sweet spot" that draws good things to us. And, it's just not the "talk", it's the walk -- the walk of confidence, joy, energy, enthusiasm and the I CAN attitude. I know in my life, this has been the case. It's the kind of talk that says things like "God is bigger AND I’m bigger than this obstacle.” It's almost like being plugged into an energy machine when we talk this talk. It puts a spring in our step. We see sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, we'll live in the month of May. Hmmm....I'm singing "My Girl" -- LOL!

Seriously, I know from experience how powerful our words can be, and I also know from experience, that our words can determine our world. Let's make a habit of speaking "Faith Words". If our mouth fills our heart with words of faith when we don't need it; then our heart will fill our mouth with words of faith when we do need it!

"For out of the abundance of his heart, a man (or woman) speaks." Luke 6:45

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." Proverbs 18:21

We've Only Just Begun

That was one of our favorite songs (released in 1970) by The Carpenters.  The characters in the song were a couple, just married, and were looking forward to new horizons, new roads to choose, with so much life ahead of them.  We sang that song completely unaware of what lie ahead….but as long as we were together, side by side, we just knew we’d make it through each and every bump in the road that we might encounter.  Seems like unrealistic thinking, but it is the ONLY way to live – believing and always hoping for the best, but just in case the worst might come, we’d be able to handle it together.   That’s because we placed our hope and trust in the ONE who had already prepared the way for us.

We’re one week into this new year and doesn’t the start of a new year make us feel the same way…a certain excitement about the possibilities that are out there for us?    We may reflect on the past, but no longer do we dwell there, because we certainly can’t change the past.  Looking through the rear view mirror is no option.  I mentioned a couple of months ago that for five years I had “Run for Ron” in the Route 66 Marathon, but this Route 66, while I was running, I clearly got the message “There’s no need to be running for Ron any longer.  He’s doing just fine running on his own.  It’s time to run your own race – run strong for Donna.”  I got it.  I had been faithful to keep the past in my present long enough.  I was turning a page in my story.  I knew that I was supposed write some new stories and a new chapter.   It was time so BEGIN again with the expectation of great adventures and unparalleled blessings up ahead.  But most importantly to write some new stories that leave a legacy for those who are following me -- a legacy of "I can" and "I will"!!   

I’m already started on that new chapter, then at the end of 2016....I'll glance back at the victories won and the many, many doors that opened up for me to great opportunities!  

Today, I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, I take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter of my life.  How about you?

I Am A Promise and I'm Something Special

Day 277 of Photo Inspirations -- I Am A Promise & I'm Something Special
#TBT  When my children were little, we always had them singing  little Gospel songs that had such great messages in them. But there were none greater than two of Bill Gaither's songs:  "I Am A Promise" and "I'm Something Special".

Both songs were so self affirming that spoke of the potential and possibilities that God had for them. Honestly, that's where it started with our children.  We taught them how precious and valuable they were.  We taught them that with God's help, they could do anything that they wanted to.  We taught them to speak positive.  "I can't" words weren't allowed.  "I can" words were God's words and we insisted they be our words.

And that affirmative atmosphere was a core value in how we lived our lives, and those two children carried on in this mindset and those core values continue in their families today.  These two children were our greatest assets and investing in them by purposefully speaking into them the possibilities that God had for them was our mandate from God .   We spoke God's Word to them: "Nothing is impossible with God" and "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" and "You are more than conquerors".  They believed it and it was settled in their hearts.  

My FB friends and families, I implore you to invest in your God-given, precious assets.  Don't leave it for them to figure out.  Cultivate their abilities.  Strengthen and encourage them, and keep reminding them how beautiful, how smart, how gifted and talented they are.  Before long, it will be ingrained in them and they will be the remarkable and brilliant world changers that you hoped they would be.

At what age do you start?  When they are in your womb.  Speak God's words into them. At what age is it too late to start?  Never is it too late.  I still speak into my two children on a daily basis. "You are a mighty woman of God/man of God.  You are blessed and highly favored.  If God be for you, who can be against you.  You are a chamption and a winner. For such a time as this, God called you to this place."

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says: "Remember my words in your hearts and souls. Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your foreheads to remind you. Teach them well to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up."

Here's the words of those two great songs:

I'M SOMETHING SPECIAL

Ryan sang this verse:
"I have a little sister who’s not at all like me.
She can write a lovely poem, but I can climb a tree."

Then Staci sang this:
"My brother though is different, with freckles on his nose,
When my questions need answers, he’s the one who knows."

They both sang this verse:
That's why I'm something special.  I'm the only one of my kind.
God gave me a body and a bright healthy mind.
He had a special purpose that He wanted me to find.
That's why I'm something special.  I'm the only one of my kind.

I AM A PROMISE

I am a promise, I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital “P,”
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learning to hear God’s voice,
And I am trying to make the right choice
I’m a promise to be anything God wants me to be.

I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything that He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I’m a great big promise you see!

I Will Act Like I'm Already There!

I was quite the awkward child and teenager. Oh, how much I wanted to dance, or be on the drill team or be a good athlete -- in any sport. If only I knew then -- what I know now about "self talk" and believing and training and doing something about what I wanted to do. Dreaming and wishing and hoping is not the stuff that makes things happen. It's the ACTION we put into our dreaming and believing. James 2:17 says: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Now "self talk", taking the time to learn about what I desire to do, and putting action to my faith -- is the way I roll.

Here's my self talk for today: "I can do this! I am a winner! I will not quit! There is no limit to what I can accomplish! I am prosperous and successful! I am bee-u-ti-ful! I make a positive difference in many people's lives. I am a conqueror. I am strong and courageous. I am faith-filled and my ACTIONS speak louder than my words, so TODAY, I will ACT like I'm already there!"