Making Course Corrections

Learning to fly was an amazing experience and flying solo was the part that sure got my blood pumping. When flying alone, there is no one else to depend upon except yourself. It was empowering, but it was also one of the most terrifying things I ever did. I made that first solo flight just fine, but then came the time, still as a student pilot but with the required skills, to make a cross-country solo flight (within 25-miles away). I learned early on about course corrections. I had put in an initial heading, but when I had flown the 25-miles, I didn’t see my destination airport in sight. I assure you that my heart was palpitating a mile a minute. I hadn’t anticipated the strong winds that pushed me off course. The scripture “Lo, I am with you always….” (Matthew 28:20) came to me and it offered me no solace because I was flying at about 3,000 feet up in the air. “Help, Lord, please be HIGH with me always!”

Logic said the airport is right in front of me, but I had not played close enough attention to making course corrections along the way. Wind changes in directions and intensity changed my course, but fortunately, only a few degrees. I wasn’t that far off course because, eventually, the airport I was to land at, was in sight. If it had been a longer and further flight, a few degrees could have put me in Timbuktu!

This scenario applies to our lives as well. Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps." In other words, we make plans, but the Lord makes course corrections along the way. Sometimes, we aren’t so thrilled with those course corrections. When Jesus left this Earth, our Father gave us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us make right decisions. He guides us in right living and right thinking.

Our heavenly Father wants us to succeed. He wants us to live in joy and in peace. He desires for our path to be straight. He wants us to reach our destination. The Holy Spirit is the One who continuously guides us. He softly whispers, "Turn this way. Go that way." He helps us make course corrections.

As we start out on our “solo” ride each day, it’s important that we pay close attention to our journey. The enemy of our souls wants to take us off course. He uses the slyest tactics to maneuver us in the wrong direction. But when we “eagle eye” and listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit Who cautions us that we’re getting off course, He will help us make the course corrections to get us back on track. Simple course corrections now instead of waiting until our lives are in a mess and things are out of control will certainly save us time AND distance. Quite often a very small course correction will avert and prevent a tragedy.

God is for us. He lovingly desires to help us adjust our direction and get us back on course. May our sensitivity to His leading be fine-tuned so that we stay on the right path. Maybe you haven't been "flying" in a straight line and you can't even see to tomorrow. Stop and listen for His voice. He is speaking. Heed His course corrections and you will reach your destination on time, every time!

God is Really, Really With Us

I've become an avid "noticer". A noticer is one who observes, notices, and pays attention to details -- not one like my husband who would notice and identify flaws in home construction or a musical composition and performance (just ask my Staci about how he "noticed" everything -- like the sound quality, her word pronunciation, or the tempo of the music). I became a "noticer" when I became a Technical Writer and Editor for various publications, but mostly of late I've become a "noticer of the most important things like one who recognizes God's nudges as well as His touches in the mainstream of life that point me in the direction I should go or tell me what to say. I've sure been a noticer during this season of Advent and Christmas. That word seems to be encased in the traditions of Christmas.

I’ve noticed the words I wrote under some of my Christmas treasures that were purchased to “remember” special times. I noticed my family in the many Christmas pictures I’ve scattered throughout my home. Because of my precious mother-in-law’s distribution of so many of her treasures to me and others, I’ve prominently placed mine where I see them every day. I notice them. I notice words in scriptures that I never noticed before. I'm in good company with my “noticing”. The shepherds were noticers of the angels who broke the news of their Savior's birth. The Wise Men were noticers of the star that led them to the Christ Child. And, Mary was a noticer and ponderer. Luke 2:19 says (after the shepherds departed): "And Mary pondered (noticed) these things in her heart." I like that -- and I desire to follow Mary's lead, as well as the shepherds and Wise Men – to notice and ponder.

I like to think that noticing is a part of seeing, hearing and sensing God WITH US. Don’t you love the word “with”? As I wrote that first paragraph, I sensed my husband “WITH” me when I remembered His noticing. I remembered His many hours of coaching our daughter with her music and performances. “WITH” is a powerful word. “Will you go WITH me?” “Stay WITH me.” Here’s the greatest news that Christmas brought us. It brought us God in human flesh. Isaiah 7:14 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (God with us). GOD WITH US!! In Matthew 28:20 the man, Jesus, said before He ascended into heaven, “Surely I am WITH you always, to the very end of the age." There were no caveats when He spoke those words. He didn’t say, “If you do this or that, I’ll be with you.” “If you go to church or if you give to the poor, I’ll be with you.” No, none of that. There are no requirements given to us. He is with us. God is with us.

So, in my pondering and noticing and remembering……I realize GOD IS WITH ME. In our times of fear, stress or worry – God is with us. In times of feeling lonely or forsaken, we must not forget – God Who Knows all, sees all and even felt all -- is with us. We’re not alone. When we understand and respect that Emmanuel is with us, then even the thoughts we think are what God is wanting us to think, ponder and notice. Maybe they are just not random thoughts but bulls-eye-target thoughts where we are to be God’s representative to our world. We can be on purpose to be aware that God is with us and in us to be His "light" representative. That means as His representative we convey His attitude, actions, and character in and through our lives. God gave us more than miracles and messages. He sent Himself; He sent His Son. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14. He wants us to NOTICE that He really is WITH US and be bold as His ambassadors to tell the world "God is with us"!

Round' and Round' She Goes, Where She Stops, Nobody Knows

"Round' and round' she goes, and where she stops nobody knows!" I heard someone say that about me. These days many of my friends and family ask me "Where are you now, Donna?" Yesterday, I showed up in frigid cold Tulsa, but I sure got to hug a lot of "warm hearted friends" last night.

Here's a little trivia for you. Long before "American Idol", "The Voice" and "America's Got Talent" became mega-hits, there was a radio and television series that started the talent competition craze. It was called: "The Original Amateur Hour" and on that show, the "gong" was made famous (those who didn't make the cut got the gong) as well as "the wheel of fortune" (identified who would be up next to perform) along with the phrase: "round' and 'round she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows." Some of those first-time struggling amateurs that performed included Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone, Gladys Knight, Ann-Margret, Connie Francis, Jim Stafford and many others. It's amazing what can be remembered and learned from the internet!

Back to me and this season of my life where I really am on the go. And, though I'm going from here to there and back again, you can count on one thing....I'm endeavoring to follow God's lead -- where He goes, I want to go.

When I was my daughter's travel companion and road manager back in the late 80's, we'd load up our van and head out for her next ministry/singing gig, and inevitably we'd sing Willie Nelson's song "On the road again -- just can't wait to get on the road again." But the song I love and sing often in my travels is Chris Tomlin's song "I Will Follow!"

"Where you go, I'll go; Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move; I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love; How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you.

Those are pretty bold claims, aren't they?: "Who you love, I'll love. How you serve, I'll serve. Where you go, I'll go. Even if I lose my life, I'll follow you." When I hear those words coming out of my mouth, it's a little sobering. Do I really consider the implications of what I'm singing? Or am I just speaking with bravado the way the Apostle Peter did in his early days of following Jesus? After all, he was the impulsive one who was always making those sorts of big, bold statements. He told Jesus things like "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." But when Jesus was arrested, those claims fell apart. Peter ran and hid and even renounced Jesus. Thankfully, that failure wasn't the end of Peter's story. In time, God's grace and power would transform him into a man whose boldness was based on God's strength rather than his own. In time Peter did respond in the only way a disciple can, by laying down his own ambitions and embracing what it meant to truly follow. At the end he even willingly gave his life for Christ.

But, sincerely, as a follower of Jesus Christ, isn't that the desire of our hearts -- to follow Him to the nth degree -- laying down our own agendas and faithfully show up to go or stay, move, love and serve as He did. The last quote reference I'll use in this post today is "Follow the Leader", a game we played as kids where the leader moved around and we had to mimic the leader's actions. What if we made that our mode of operation -- FOLLOW THE LEADER because I know where He goes....I sure want to go, be and do as He does! Stay tuned -- soon, I'll be back to Texas because I'm following my LEADER -- here, there AND everywhere!

Life is Like Candy Land! It's a Sweet Spot or a Sticky Swamp!

Everyone that will read my post today will, no doubt, remember playing, at least one time or another, the "sweet" game of Candy Land. It still ranks as one of the most popular children's games in the U.S. I've played it with my kids and grandkids -- many times. The goal of the game is to make it to the end of a winding route and reach King Kandy -- but the path is very unpredictable. You pick a card and it might indicate that you can jump way ahead or you may have to go way back to the beginning. Or you might get stuck in Molasses Swamp, where you have to stay until the right cards turn up. The randomness of the cards adds to the adventure. You can be almost to the end of the adventure, but you still have to draw just the right card to reach your destination.

Though the game is truly a "game of luck", it plays very close to the real unpredicatability of our lives. One moment we might be in a state of incredible joy, but give it a couple of days, and we might face incredible disappointment. Neverthless, the reward of reaching King Kandy makes the adventure worthwhile. In this post, I'm referring to King Kandy aka Father God. No, He is not a Candy Store where we can always expect sweet delacacies, but we can trust that even in the tough times, He is directing our steps. Proverbs 16:9 "A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

I know those adventures. And, I know my faith tells me that my Lord walks the journey with me. He never promised a clear, unobstructed road, but He did promise to be with me -- even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Having Him with me, gives me joy, peace, and contentment, whether the adventures lead me to sweet treats or to yucky swamps.

God's Word (scriptures) illuminates my pathways. "His Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway." Psalm 119:105. His LIGHT keeps me from going off-course. As long as I keep my focus on Him, He keeps me in peace.

So, today, if you find yourself depressed, sad, afraid, doubting because you're hanging out in places of darkness -- I lovingly encourage you to move toward THE LIGHT. Let God fill your heart and home with His light. Let Him eliminate the sources of darkness. I promise you…..you’ll find the SWEET SPOT. Then you'll live in Candy Land's home SWEET home everyday!
— feeling peaceful.