She's a Looney-Toon

Remember those wacky, wild, half-witted Looney Tunes characters? We laughed at their shenanigans. They gave us plenty of comedy relief. We often think the same thing about overzealous Christians. They are the ones who stand on a street corner waving some kind of "Jesus" sign and yelling “Do you love Jesus?” They are the ones who call attending church, small groups and Bible studies as a fun night out!

I saw a man joyfully dancing down the street and waving a sign that said, "TRUST GOD" on it. The first impression of those passing by was probably "That guy's a 'looney-tune’!" But, he inspired me. I gave him a big thumbs up as I passed him. I recognized his joy. Maybe he was deliriously happy because of an answered prayer and he wanted everyone to experience his joy, too! On the other hand, maybe he was acting in faith, simply trusting God for something that seemed almost impossible in the natural. Either way, he had the "goods" on trusting.

My own daughter can be seen as a Looney Tune because her eyes are always open for someone to encourage and bring hope to their life. Her line is usually “Is there something I can pray with you about?” And, most people are quick to say "yes". On our recent trip to Tulsa, I had to hold her at bey because we were on a time crunch for an appointment, so she kept her head down when we stopped at a service station. Seriously, I want to be more like her – bold, unafraid and unashamed of what people think, and letting my little light shine.

What causes some folks to live with such unabandoned devotion to God? I'd like to suggest that they are the ones who once were lost and now they’re found; they were on their death bed and now they’re healed and whole; they were once lonely, but now they are secure in knowing how loved and cared for by God they are; they were once an alcoholic or drug addict and now they’re free; they were once homeless and now they have a home, a job, and a family and friends.

Think about what a "looney-tune" Noah must have been to those who watched him building the ark when it had never rained before. And, here we are living in this 21st Century and many of us have become bold and fanatical in our faith and devotion to God, so much so that we wear "Victory in Jesus" t-shirts or other slogans that reference God and other branded items that makes others refer to “those Looney-Tune people”. We’re those people who are radical enough to defend the unborn; who love our Country, and those who believe nothing is impossible with God. We're those Looney Tunes who attend church regularly, read our Bibles, and share God’s good news wherever we go.

But most importantly we enjoy being referred to as Looney Tunes. We've trusted God in the storms of life and we came through it all. Actually, maybe it’s the people who don’t trust in God that are the real "Looney Tunes". Maybe people who never take a risk, never face their fears, and those who don't know how to dance in the storms are the real "LooneyTunes".

Honestly, there are days that I am so profoundly overjoyed at the answers to prayer, the blessings that come my way, and sheer delight in my relationship with God -- that I could be that guy in my desire for others to see that TRUSTING GOD truly pays off! Yes, there are prayers that don't get answered the way we'd like them to. Often we get a "No" or a "Not yet" answer, and, even so, we learn that total TRUST with complete certainty that He will work it ALL for our good, just becomes our way of life. So when others point to us as Looney Tunes – let’s own up to it. After all, we're in good company with Jesus. No feedback necessary. No need to be concerned. God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good. Now from Looney Tunes' Porky Pig: "Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th... That's all, folks!"

YES -- Count Me In!

Yesterday I received an email asking me to be a "welcomer" at a 3-day Mission at my church this week. I'll admit I had thoughts of saying "No", because it meant I had to be at church an hour early each night and because I would just have returned home from Tulsa and, and, and (What other excuses could I think of?), but then I remembered what a YES means. I responded to that email: "YES. Count me in!"

My word for today is YES: an affirmative response; absolutely, agreed, okay, okey-dokey, absolutely, indeed, affirmative

There were many times when I was reluctant to say “Yes” to something or someone for fear it may cost me way too much in time, commitment, energy and strength. Maybe you’re right there, right now. Are you struggling with a “yes”? I was. I was just a youngster when my church’s youth choir leader asked me to sing a solo. With trepidation, I struggled with the response, but I said “yes”. When I was a little older and attending my future father-in-law’s church where he was the pastor, he asked me to play the piano for the worship service. Still I struggled with that “yes”, but, afraid, I said “yes” and I played on for years. My future mother-in-law asked me to play the lead role in a Christmas play as well as to play the piano for the church's worship service. My YES in those "younger years" took me out of my comfort zone.

The President at First City Bank on OK City urged me to get my securities brokers license so I could be a branch manager at a new branch that was being built. And another employer asked me to be the Assistant Director in Communications at the University of Manitoba. And my husband pushed me to get my airplane pilot's license, as well as my Real Estate Broker’s license. To every one of those “asks”, eventually, and sometimes, with apprehension and nerves peaking the highest levels possible, I did say “YES” and every time, I became more confident, more determined, more courageous, more accomplished, and more victorious over my anxieties and fears.

God wouldn’t have held a “NO” against me, but that “NO” would have continued to create inferiority and regret within me. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Christ we can say “Amen,” to the glory of God.“ Of course this verse is talking about our YES to those times when we are challenged in our faith. God looks at us to take that step of faith because he knows that we know we can accomplish ALL THINGS, through Christ Who strengthens us.” Philippians 4:13.

YES, it depends on the question being asked. A “no” to some questions is needed, but to those questions that stretch our faith and confidence, we should be bold enough to say “YES”. God is looking at us to take that step of faith. What does saying “Yes” look like for you. Maybe, it’s “Yes, I’ll forgive.” “Yes, I’ll trust you.” “Yes, I’ll share God’s love with others.” “Yes, I’ll volunteer for that charity.” “Yes, I’ll join that Bible study group.” “Yes, I’ll lead that Mom’s Group.” “Yes, God, I’ll open my eyes to your supernatural doors of opportunity today.”

Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” People and time and fear and nerves will keep us from our YES. It’s not our ability, but God’s ability in us that gives us the boldness and the courage to say YES!

Think about the YES of Noah. His family was spared. What about the YES of Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Her YES, her unwavering faith and her cooperation with the Holy Spirit, gave us the Messiah. Just think about what your “Yes” could produce!

I'll say yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way.
I'll say yes, Lord, yes. I will trust you and obey.
When your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree,
And my answer will be YES, Lord, YES!

Walking By Faith

As I’ve taken on this year as a great adventure, how appropriate that I would look up on the wall in my “Frisco” bedroom (aka The Guest Room for others that visit the Wallace’s), and see this stencil drawing just above the closet door, and directly across from the comfy and cozy bed. "We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7.

What perfect words to see, meditate on, and embrace for this new year. There may be situations and circumstances along the way that I see that could be interpreted as obstacles, inconveniences or bumps in the road, but if I take on this scripture as my 2017 slogan, then I’ll always have a sense of knowing that "walking by faith" is a journey of tremendous blessing and reward. It is a journey that may be exciting, and it can even be life-altering and mind-boggling.

Walking by faith and not by sight requires us to go to a place we don't know, but one that God will reveal as we walk in obedience to Him.

Walking by faith means that we continue to cling to the dreams God has planted in our heart, even though it seems those dreams are risky and it's taking a long time for them to come true.

Walking by faith requires a strong determination to follow God’s plan regardless what life throws our way.

Walking by faith means we may have to do some pretty crazy, hairy and scary things. Think about Noah building an ark for a flood when it had never even rained on earth. Think about Abraham clinging to the promise that he would be the father of many nations even though he was childless at the age of 100.

Choosing the "walking by faith" life, means we get out of our comfort zone, are willing to let God take our world and turn it upside down, shake it up, and even start all over again. And, in doing so, we let God out of the neat little box that we have put Him in, and give Him the liberty to show up when He's good and ready -- with his PERFECT timing.

I don’t know where you are on this journey of walking by faith, but I encourage you to take the first step of the walk. That first step is the first step to success. It's a decision we'll never regret because He assures us He’ll be with us to complete what He starts in us.

Seen Any Rainbows Lately?

Seen Any Rainbows Lately?
This beautiful rainbow was over our subdivision after a recent rain. I grew up with only one thought about rainbows. I learned about it in my Sunday School class. You know....Noah, the ark, the animals, the rain, the flood, the promise. It is found in Genesis 9. And God said, “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."

That's what I knew about a rainbow....it was the Promise of God. It is always like heaven touching earth whenever I see one. In the midst of life’s storms it is often hard to spot a rainbow, but I think the most important thing is to remember, these miracles of the sky only appear AFTER the storm. I'll never forget a really tough season in our lives and we were exhausted from fighting the good fight of faith and then we walked into our home and up on a large painting was a rainbow being reflected from the sun coming in the room and hitting a glass object. That was just the "sign" we needed to know we were coming out of the storm, and we did, in almost unimaginable ways.

Along the way, I heard more about rainbows from our Irish friends -- that, at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold. Fun thought, however far fetched it may be. When I was in Ireland last year, I realized that what the Irish really believe is that rainbows symbolize blessings from heaven.

The rainbow took on another meaning when the Supreme Court’ made the decision on gay marriage. Social media and even the White House were lit up with the colors of the rainbow.

No matter what belief system people have, nothing changes the fact that God designed the rainbow to symbolize something far greater and far more glorious than pots of gold, little green leprechauns or diverse sexual orientations.

The really good news, for all of us, is the rainbow displays God’s grace towards all humanity. To this day, the rainbow symbolizes that promise. Back to Genesis 9 -- as long as the rainbow hangs in the sky, God will mercifully and graciously restrain his anger towards humanity, but I sure don't want to take chances on God's patience with me. Yes, He's so very patient with us and the fact that He hasn't sent another flood to destroy the world and all its craziness again, is certainly a ginormous display of His tolerance and patience. He is so merciful.

As I typed this last night, I thought about the Star in the East that led the Magi to the Christ Child. What if, no matter if the rainbow is in the sky, on a flag or a lapel pin that someone is wearing -- that our first thought would be "Lord, as we see this rainbow, may it point us and others to Your grace, Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your peace and that it would bring us to seeking and serving You with all our hearts.

Now, I give you one of those sweet Irish blessings:
” May God give you…for every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.”
~ Old Irish Blessing

TRUST GOD!

Day 70 of Photo Inspirations -- TRUST GOD
Enroute to Dallas yesterday, I saw a man joyfully dancing down the street and waving a sign that said, "TRUST GOD" on it.   This isn't the photo.  I wish I could have gotten it because I would visually be able to show his unabandoned joy to you, but way too much traffic held me back.   Nevertheless, he inspired me.  The first impression of passer-bys was probably "That guy's a 'looney-tune'!"   But, when I saw him, I gave him a big thumbs up as I passed him.  I recognized that joy from personal experience.  Maybe he was deliriously happy because of some great answers to prayer and he was wanting everyone to experience what he was experiencing.  On the other hand, maybe he was acting in faith, TRUSTING GOD, for something that seems almost impossible in the natural.  Either way -- he had the "goods" on trusting.

Think about what a "looney-tune" Noah must have been to those who watched him building the ark for over 100 years.  How about the little shepherd boy, David, standing up to Goliath!   What about Daniel in the lion's den?   What about those of us that trusted God in the storms of life and we came through it all?  Actually, maybe it’s the people who don’t trust in God that are the real "looney tunes".   Maybe people who never take a risk,  never face their fears, and those who don't know how to dance in the storms are the real "looney-tunes".

Honestly, there are days that I am so profoundly overjoyed at the answers to prayer, the blessings that come my way, and sheer delight in my relationship with God -- that I could be that guy in my desire for others to see that TRUSTING GOD truly pays off!   Yes, there are prayers that don't get answered the way we'd like them to.  Often we get a "No" or a "Not yet" answer, and, even so, we learn that total TRUST with complete certainty that He will work it ALL for our good, just becomes our way of life.    TRUST GOD!