I'm Trusting in the Lord With All My Heart!

When I lived in Tulsa and headed up a Life Group in my home, I bought several of these little plates to give to the gals on their birthday. I'd add some yummy treats to the gift, but the words from Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" was the most important part of the gift. I had one plate left and when I was getting a plate for my scrambled eggs yesterday morning, I randomly pulled that one out. I took the message to heart. I knew God was giving me the nudge I needed. When I got in my car, on the seat was this penny. I embraced the message that God was wanting me to get. He knows me so well.

When I have these encounters, I don't take them lightly. I consider them divine, coming straight from "Heaven Central". If there's anything about my childhood that I treasure the most, it was my upbringing in a church and family that taught me the importance of memorizing scriptures. I can't begin to tell you how many times when I was in a situation that I needed a quick word of encouragement and support, and I would recollect God's Word that I had stored in my heart. “Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.” (Proverbs 7:2)

Jesus wasn't at all random with getting His point across to those who followed Him and needed an encouraging word. He used fish, a bird, a well, water, bread, salt, a candle, etc. My faith tells me God was intentional with those words to me yesterday just as much as He used object lessons with those He taught as He walked this earth.

I'll admit I've been in a season of wondering while I was wandering. I wondered what my future would hold, who my friends would be, when and what my ministry in this season would look like, and how I can best make use of the time I have remaining on this earth. Then right in the midst of my wondering about the what, who, when, and how.....a simple plate and a penny told me, AGAIN, to simply TRUST in God. The rest of that Proverbs 3:5 says "and lean not to your own understanding". My mind says "You need to figure this out" but God says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL your ways, acknowledge HIM and He will direct your steps."

Once again, God got the last word....and His words are always the "word in season" that gives us the assurance that He's got this so all we have to do is to TRUST! Has He given you one of His object lessons recently? I'd love to hear it!

Little Bands of Women are EVERYWHERE!

Payton, my 16-year-old grandson, is going on a missions trip to Guatemala in June, so in efforts to raise the monies to go, he posted in a neighborhood community app that he would do odd jobs for people. So when a lady called and asked him to get some things down from her attic, as well as to put together some boxes for her upcoming move, he earned some nice cash to put towards his trip. When she mentioned that she was going to have an estate sale, he told her about his Nana who once had an estate sale business. She wanted to meet me so Payton called and asked me to come over. I did. We had several things in common. She was moving to the same community where I'll be moving to in a few weeks, she has a Buick Enclave – just like me….and she loves the Lord – just like me. She invited me to her home for her Life Group for single women that meets every Saturday night. Once again, I sensed God smiling at me and throwing me a kiss!

I attended that Life Group last night where 18 women came together for a great pot luck (blessing) meal and then we sat in a big circle and each of us had the opportunity to share a praise report or request prayer for something or someone, or both. There was much laughter, tears of gratitude and tears of heartfelt desire for God to intervene in areas of their lives, and sweet support on so many levels. When it came around to me, I told the ladies that I’m looking up to heaven and saying “Thanks God, because I know it was You that brought me here tonight! He showed me that He has little bands of women everywhere, just like when Jesus walked this earth, He always had a band of women that loved and served Him. God must be smiling big and sending lots of kisses to this group!” Like my home in Tulsa where the precious sisters in my Life Group met, this home, last night, was a safe place and you could tell all of these women were fully devoted followers of Christ who live believing there are NO LIMITS to what God can do in and through us.

In so many places in this world, women are so marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used the example of Jesus and how He loved and respected us. He really "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there was a band of women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 motley crew of men disciples as He ministered all around Galilee. Those women came from all walks of life, they were single, married, and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ. He loved them, taught them and could have cared less about what the pious religious folk thought.

The little bands of women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith that He would rise as He promised. That flame of faith may have burned high, and it may have burned low, but the flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded. Like the women of the Bible, our flame of faith may burn high and it may burn low, but our flame never goes out and because we have faith in His Word that “nothing is impossible with Him”, He rewards us.
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God didn’t waste any time showing me that He is leading me every step of the way on my journey of faith. I’ve said it before, “If you want to have friends, show yourself friendly.” It took getting out of my comfort zone to go to that Life Group last night. I didn’t know those ladies – even the gal that invited me except for a simple conversation a couple of weeks ago. If we want friends, it means we just might have to be willing to get out of our comfort zone. We may find it by joining a community group or small group at our church. We may want to volunteer to facilitate a Bible Study or join a Sunday School Class or a Choir or another group where they're living a life of purpose and destiny. As we trust God with every area of our lives, He will open doors of blessing to us. Perhaps there's a little band of women OR, if you're a man or a couple, a band of believers who are just waiting for you to show up and be a blessing to you, and you, to them.

Love is Giving AND Receiving

I hit the ground running – rather, driving to Tulsa on Friday for my Tulsa love fix – spending time with my dear mother-in-law, some of my friends from Hyde Park, my bestie - Sheila Michie, my godson and his family,and other precious friends from my home parish, Church OfThe Madalene, my Life Group sisters and my sweet great niece, Anna and my sis, Karen. Whew! I was able to pack a lot of love into these three days.

Adding to that mix, was attending Catholic Charities “Cooking Up Compassion” on Saturday night, where over a thousand guests were a part of this annual fundraiser night that brings hundreds of thousands of dollars into this most worthy organization that feeds the poor, provides dental care, education and immigration services, disaster relief services, takes care of unwed mothers, provides adoption opportunities to loving families and so much more – all done with such dignity and love by this caring community.

Adding to that mix, was attending Catholic Charities “Cooking Up Compassion” on Saturday night, where over a thousand guests were a part of this annual fundraiser night that brings hundreds of thousands of dollars into this most worthy organization that feeds the poor, provides dental care, education and immigration services, disaster relief services, takes care of unwed mothers, provides adoption opportunities to loving families and so much more – all done with such dignity and love by this caring community. It was a joy to be able to give along with others who have such deep appreciation for what Catholic Charities does for those in need, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. There were live auctions where we saw generosity go to a whole new level, especially when the top earning, auctioned item -- Fr Jack Gleason and Fr Gary Kastl will offer their culinary talents to create a 7-course feast for 12 people -- went for $24,000. Bishop David Konderla’s handmade and carved wooden bowl went for $5,500. Four Dallas Cowboy Tickets went for $5,000. An adorable Goldendoodle puppy went for $9,000. I’m sure it wasn’t the items, themselves, as much as it was the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives impacted by Catholic Charities.

Yes, love is giving and receiving. The rewards are so many when we make the effort to connect, remember the reasons why the people in our lives made such an impact on us. It's like a boomerang -- when we give love, it will come back to us. If we give joy, we'll receive back joy. Like this first photo of the little bird and his reflection, we should be a reflection of what we want to receive. If we want love, we give love. If we want truth, we need to be truthful. What we give out will come back to us. It's the law of reciprocity.

That LAW isn't new at all. It started with the greatest of all GIVERS when Jesus said, "Give......and it shall be given!" We've heard the words: "Serve....and you shall be served." "Love....and you shall be loved." "Be a friend.....and you shall have friends."

Zig Ziglar, a dear friend of ours, said, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." Smart and truly successful people get this. Most times we give..... with absolutely no expectation or desire to receive back.....but it's just those laws....God's Laws of Reciprocity.....YOU WILL RECEIVE, when your heart's attitude is to GIVE, SERVE and LOVE! REAL LIVING comes from a heart of giving!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Remember those words from the "Sound of Music"? When the Von Trapp family sang that song as their final number at the German festival, they escaped to freedom in Switzerland.

This morning, I, too, am singing that song, but it's not because I'm escaping a negative situation to find freedom. It's because I already live in freedom which is produced by walking day-to-day in the confidence of God and His desires for me to live an abundant life in Him. I know that good-byes are always just temporary absence because here, or there in heaven, we'll meet again.

Since last Saturday, I've been in Tulsa which was like my "Farewell Tour" as all my responsibilities here are completed and it's time to go beyond the comfort zone to unchartered waters, but no concern, because God is already there where I'll end up.

My sweet Life Group sisters met for the last time Thursday night, and while we shared such precious memories of answered prayers, victories won, and great expectations for our future, we talked again about those "signs" that God gives us to show us we're on track.

One of the conversations we had was about the movie my family and I saw on Thanksgiving weekend, "Moana". It is definitely the Polynesian islands equivalent to the "Frozen" movie. As one of the gals looked at the overview of the movie on her cell phone, she said, "Donna, Moana is you! It is definitely a SIGN." As I read what she had pulled up, I agreed. "Moana is an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. (Well, quite obviously, I'm not a teenager, but I do own the fact that I am adventurous. And I am inspired to leave the safety and security of my comfort zone -- Tulsa, OK. And, more than anything, I desire to be an ambassador for God who wants to lead as many people as I can to be fully devoted followers of Christ.) Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana convinces the mighty demigod Maui to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a WAYFINDER like her ancestors who sailed before her. Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: HER OWN IDENTITY. My sis-in-love reminded me that last year I ran my last Run-for-Ron marathon because I heard God say..."Donna, you've run-for-Ron long enough now (5 years to be exact), it's time to Run-for-Donna (my OWN identity).

Moana reminded me that, as a Christian, I should take my callings (my God assignments) seriously and pursue them with all my heart even if it is a journey with unknowns, maybe risks or costs. In other words, the selfless courage of Moana is something I want to emulate. "Moana” reminds me that I should let my mission in Christ and God’s calling in my life define my identity, not the easy peasy, comfortable circumstances or even the mistakes and disappointments along the way.

In parting, I say "Tulsa, and all my precious colleagues, friends, family and acquaintances -- THANKS for the memories. Thanks for the friendships. Thanks for making me better. Thanks for loving me, embracing me, helping me grow and BE who God destined me to be! I love you all so much. I'll see you later!"

This, That and The Other

Often our lives are made up of having a little longing for THIS or being a little offended about THAT or complaining a little about the OTHER. Being dissatisfied about THIS, THAT or the OTHER.

I’m guilty. Sometimes I have a longing for something on my bucket list. I was offended when an online merchant deceived me. My yard has ruts in it from when my yard man mowed way too low. I deserve to feel all these dissatisfied emotions about THIS, THAT or the OTHER. Or do I?

Then comes a reality shake-up on really what matters. Heaven met earth when my Life Group and I headed to James Mission on Tuesday Night to take a look at their operations. We thought they may be a good outreach ministry that we could volunteer for and support.

James Mission, here in Tulsa and Nowata, is all about restoring hope through God’s love by providing resources, encouragement and support to orphans, foster and displaced families. What started in their home, is now their own location at the Resource and Visitation Center. The visitation rooms give biological parents and their children a safe and friendly environment for their visits together. And their newest project is Loads of Love for those children who are removed from their home for various reasons, and all the things they hold dear (favorite toys, books, clothes and keepsakes, etc.) are left behind – sometimes forever. This “on-call” delivery of filled suitcases & bags for kids who are newly placed into Emergency Foster Care helps soothe the pain these kids face..

We saw their many tubs of neatly folded “like-new” or new clothes arranged according to ages and sizes. We saw loads of diapers, toys, Bibles, toiletries – all the things that help that precious child feel loved in spite of their unfortunate circumstances.

Love and compassion built James Mission. The Reyes, foster and adoptive parents themselves, run this ministry because of their undaunted love and care for needy children. Marisa, their own foster, and now “adopted” daughter, was our guide and it was easy to see how what was meant for her demise, became the vehicle that brought love and care (a hope and a future) from the Reyes family. After moving three times in foster homes and a youth shelter for over a year, Marisa met the Reyes family. Marisa says "After about eight months of living with such a great foster family, I was adopted in February, 2015. Their love for me reminds me that I was chosen, special, and loved. I now have three brothers, a sister and two dogs. My family means more than you could ever imagine and I couldn’t have done better for myself without them."

Our Life Group has already determined to be a part of James Mission because we hold dear God’s Word that says in James 1:27 “The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans and widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence. This is the kind of worship that God accepts as pure and good.”

In the light of so many needs all around us, we’ll find those who LONG a warm bed and a family that loves them. If any have the right to be offended by negligent family members, and have reasons to complain about their mistreatment, these precious children do. How can I justify longing, being offended or complaining for those really non-vital issues in my world. I know God expects more from us. He expects us to be His hands extended to a hurting world. He expects us to be a light in the darkness to the hurting: THIS child. THAT broken-hearted widow. The OTHERS who are just a hug away from our making a difference in their lives. Indeed THE WORSHIP God wants from us is loving, caring and helping His children – those who can’t help themselves.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

Temple Tuesday Was Just That

Tuesday of Holy Week could be called "Temple Tuesday," because in Matthew 21 we read how Jesus spent this day of Holy Week at the temple -- teaching and using parables to make his points. He was constantly confronted by religious leaders. They challenged his authority to teach the people, and lamblasted him with unreasonable theological questions. He answered them so successfully that "no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions".

I had a sweet Temple Tuesday day because 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" Nancy Crow and I enjoyed a birthday lunch celebrating a dear friend, Sharon Ray at Wild Fork. We talked a lot about the faithfulness of God, the many ways He has blessed us and how we are here on this earth -- not to be a part of the naysayers, the cynics and those who seem compelled to live on the side of frustration, anger, and fear, but to be a part of the solution -- living lives of complete trust in God because FATHER knows best! I loved it when our waiter, gave a private birthday concert to Sharon. He said we "made his day" when we were leaving, and He made ours.

Then tonight, my Life Group (12 of us) went to see "Miracles From Heaven". Yesterday, I posted that I would give my review of the film. Let's just say....it would be well worth it to see it sometime during this Holy Week. For sure you will see our God Who is alive and well in the lives and hearts of His people, and how He is still in the miracle working business. In contrast to all the "noise" and "violence" in this world, as I watched that movie, I thought about the "safe place" we are in when we are in the presence of God.

A friend in my community went to see it earlier today. She called me to say "This movie should be seen be everyone in the world. There is no way they won't believe in God and His miracles if they see it. But be sure to bring tissues." And I wholeheartedly agree. Whether you’re a believer, non-believer, or agnostic, you will find it hard to hold back some tears at various points throughout the story. The fact that it's a true story heightens those emotions.

Much of what draws out the emotion in us is Jennifer Garner's character, the mother of the little girl. She revealed such warmth and vulnerability and determination. Her faith and her family's faith was tested to the core. Faith was the most crucial component of the movie -- the need for it and the validation of it, but most of all the "stuff" we go through....could very well be for changing lives around us.

Our Life Group came out of the movie, exhilarated, emotionally drained by the ups and downs of the story line, and praising God for yet another affirmation that "Nothing is Impossible With God". Do yourself a favor -- see this movie. It could easily have been one of those illustrated sermons that Jesus gave in the temple in explaining what trust in God can do. Aren't you so glad you get to be alive to see the visuals played out in movies and real life of God's wonder-working power? I know I am.

Looking for Love in All the Right Places

Getting to celebrate life with my special loved ones and friends in Tulsa brings such joy to my heart. Here's what my World of Love's "right places" looks like:

I have precious friends in the community where I live. We laugh, celebrate life, many of us pray for each other and share meals with each other. Several of us are the face of Hyde Park and we represent our community to guests that stop by to visit us. Love in the right places!

My Life Group meets in my home every Tuesday. We share our triumphs and tests, we pray together, celebrate together and do life together. The latest triumph was the birth of this precious baby girl, Ragan Rainey. We prayed for her Mom & Dad to be blessed with her, and indeed they have been. Her two grandmothers attend my Life Group (yes, that's them having received their coronation bouquet) -- so of course, that little girl had no choice but to come into this world with God's blessings. Love in the right places!

I have the most wonderful "family of friends" at Church of the Madalene where I have attended for over 16 years. The women in this church, The Women of the Madalene, are par excellence. They are the most giving, loving and caring women ever! To them, there is no task too great or small when it comes to serving God and His people. Serving with them is truly an honor. Love in the right places!

As if having a family of friends at one church isn't enough, I have a host of friends at Life.Church, which is just a half block from my home. I love serving with these precious people who rock my world (literally) every weekend. I am a part of the Host, Chazown, Baptism, and Operations Teams. Being fully devoted followers of Christ is all about "loving in the right places" -- and the greatest blessing of all is witnessing so many people coming to Christ at each service. Last Sunday, at our Jenks campus alone, over 150 people were baptized in water. Love in the right places!

Then there is my precious godson and his siblings. They are my Tulsa family -- I love these kids and their love for me blesses me so much. All of them have February birthdays -- so of course it's the Month of Love for them AND me. Owen, my godson, is a treasure beyond words to me. He sits by me in church, snuggles close to me, puts his arm around me or holds my hand. Yes, I feel kisses from heaven each time. Love in the right places!

My dear Mom-in-Law lives here in Tulsa. Mom has been such a dear friend to me for 55 years now -- 5 years before my Sweetheart and I married. She has encouraged, prayed for and loved me like a daughter. Last Sunday, Valentine's Day, we had a "Sweetheart" lunch together at Olive Garden. Of course, we talked about the two men that were our loves for a lifetime and because of the richness of those loves, we can be so thankful they're no longer in our past....they are in our future! We'll be with them again one day. Love in the right places!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Post Oak Lodge for the Christ the King ACTS Retreat -- Thursday thru Sunday. I was once a retreatant, but now I'm on the leadership team for the retreat. We've met every Monday for the last three months in preparation for this weekend where women will come and be made to feel like princesses -- daughters of the King. It is a weekend like no other I've ever witnessed. Encounters with the living Christ that causes all of our hearts to melt in His presence. We come to know the true meaning of loving God with all our hearts, souls and minds. Love in the right places!

AND, if all this LOVE in Tulsa weren't enough to bless this heart of mine, I'll be heading to Seattle on Monday for a feast of love with my family there for two weeks, and then back for a week with my Texas family -- no shortage of love there because it's "Love in the right places"!

People ask me "Why are you so happy all the time -- after all, you live alone, you're a widow, you have to handle life and all it gives you by yourself?" I think by now, you know. I'm still here. I'm not done with living. I celebrate each day with as much gusto as I can. Life isn't a destination. It's a beautiful, wonderful, living-life-large JOURNEY of finding love in all the right places. I recommend living this way -- self pity, whining, and complaining is not found here on this journey -- it's all about an attitude of gratitude each and every day! It's finding love in all the right places!

Celebrating Faith and Friendship

Day 251 of Photo Inspirations -- Celebrating Faith and Friendship -- That's Christmas!

Yes, my photo inspirations for today are these precious women that I do life with. That's what a small group is all about. We share and celebrate each others' victories and we pray and encourage each other in times of need. These women inspire me in so many ways.  

Last night, we had the sweetest time of celebrating this wonderful time of the year. After a yummy "pot blessing" meal (better known as "pot luck") which we do each week, and since this is the last meeting we'll have until January, we reflected on the good things God has done for us in 2015. We heard about babies on the way for children who couldn't conceive before, children's fresh commitment to God and attending church regularly, healing from insomnia, no surgeries needed, healing from feet and leg issues, gift of steady work, healthy grandchildren born, husband having steady work, God meeting the needs of others, etc. As I listened to these praises and thanksgiving words, I thought "When our praises go up, His blessings come down!" That's just the goodness of our Heavenly Father Who inhabits our praises and Who takes pleasure in blessing us. 

Then lots of laughter ensued as we played the Nativity Ornament or Gift Exchange Game. We each had brought a wrapped ornament. You might want to do this fun game with a group -- it's quite humorous and the message of Christ's birth comes through loud and clear. This is the website: http://www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/right-left-christmas-game.html

God is always speaking to His kids. Fact is, are we always listening to Him? He speaks to us when we're still, and even in the fun, merry-heart times. These photo inspirations are the ornaments we received at the conclusion of the game. One of our ladies' received an ornament that had owls in it. She was so inspired because lately God has been speaking to her about cultivating His wisdom -- the owl represents "wisdom". It was a vivid reminder that God is speaking to her -- not just in her private, quiet times, but right when there's laughter and celebration -- in the unexpected times.

Isn't that God's normal mode of operation. When we least expect it, He shows up. He gives us an illustrated sermon that verifies His Word to us. Jesus lives in His children, so since He is inside us, how could we expect anything less than hearing His voice. From Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone HEARS MY VOICE and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.”

God in us! How profound is that promise? With God in us, we have a wealth of information dwelling inside us. Having trouble making a decision? Christ can help. He lives within us. Can’t stop worrying? Christ can help. Can’t forget the past and forgive the one who hurt us, or forsake a bad habit? Christ can! And He lives in us. We just have to watch and listen. Emmanuel -- God is with us.

He Answered

Day 313 of Photo Inspirations -- He Answered
Of course these Baby Shower cookies, inscripted with "He Answered" would be my photo inspiration for today.  "He answered" doesn't mean the wife called and her husband answered.  It means they called on God and He answered.

The 2nd photo is of two precious women in my Life Group, Paula Hieronymus Vaughn​ and Shelly Been Summers​, best friends, and related by the fact that Paula's son, is married to Shelly's daughter. There is nothing like praying mamas and these two mamas, along with our Life Group, have been praying AND believing for their kids to conceive for quite some time.   We take our prayer requests/petitions very seriously in this group.

We come together weekly and are thrilled to hear praises of "Look what God has done", but we are also thrilled to provide a safe place to share each other's needs, prayer requests and what's on each other's hearts -- to pray and believe with each other for those things that are beyond human intervention.....they need divine intervention.

This 2nd photo, was taken at our Life Group meeting  when these two found out their kids were indeed expecting.  They came, with that yummy cake with pink & blue diaper pins on it, to surprise us and to celebrate their good news.  We kept it quiet (oh how we wanted to shout to the world on Facebook that "He Answered" then, but we were sworn to secrecy until the "All Systems Go" signal). After four years of trying to conceive, their kids were still cautious about broadcasting their exciting news to the world.

A precious little girl will make her debut in January and, yesterday, I was thrilled to help host the celebration shower at my Hyde Park clubhouse. I was so inspired by these cookies to say to you...."HE ANSWERS" for you, too!  God is no respector of persons so why not take this little blog as all you need to help you believe for your miracle....whether it's a baby, a new job, a financial blessing, a healing, or a breakthrough of any kind.

Yes, there were snags along the way and disappointment after disappointment, but these two women, and a lot of others who joined the ranks of praying for them, are seeing the rewards of those prayers today.  It doesn't matter whether you've been believing for 10 minutes, 10 months or 10 years, our God's timeline is right on time.  He sees the beginning, the middle, and the ending.  He sees and knows the seed planting.....time.....then harvest.  Seed time and harvest.

I spoke to Paula after the shower today, and I reminded her that their victory is our victory, too. Today's declaration "He Answered" is way beyond their family.  It is for you AND me.  I take hold of it.  I know it's true, because "He Answered" for me time and time again.  Don't give up.

You're on the brink of your miracle, too!