What is it Like to be You?

We’ve all played “ice breaker” games with a group of people who we may know very little about. It’s a great way to get to know each other in a very open environment. But, instead of the usual questions: “What do you do for fun? What was your most embarrassing moment? What was your favorite vacation?”, what if this question were asked: “What is it like to be you?”

I assure you – it would depend on how we felt physically, mentally, socially, economically, relationally, and spiritually on that given day. If we felt good – no real aches or pains; if we were calm and at peace in our souls; if we were in a happy place with our spouse or friends; loved our job, and if we were in a right place with God, our answer may be something like: “It is great to be me because I am healthy, my family loves me, I have great friends, an awesome job, and God is so good to me!”

Good answer -- on a good day! And, if it were a faith confession of "speaking of things that be not as though they were" (Romans 4:17) -- it would still be a good answer. I may have answered it differently last week after recovering from a minor surgery. I developed an excruciating, painful skin issue. Having cloth of any kind next to my skin hurt beyond explanation (good thing I was alone). If I had been asked “What is it like to be you?”, though I would have tried desperately to describe myself in a faith-filled, upbeat, hallelujah voice, if I were honest to the bone, I would have told you that I felt miserable and in pain like I have never known. Being me would have come down to what I felt in that one season of time. I thought how I have taken my good health for granted. I thought about those who were living their lives without a thought about how good they feel and for those who were in far more pain than I was in. But fast forward to today when there is no more pain and suffering, I’d tell you “My life is like birds singing, bells ringing, blue skies, raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and walking on sunshine.”

This experience made me realize that I don’t want to take God and His blessings for granted in any way. God is good. Really, really, really good…..all the time!" Nothing that comes our way in this one life, is surprising to God. Why He allows us to experience tough times is up to Him – there is always a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. When bad things happen to us that we simply don't understand, instead of doubting God’s goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). I was saying that scripture a lot last week.

The best news of all is this one life here on earth is short-lived in light of eternity. It is the ensuring that whatever this life looks like here is nothing to be compared to what our lives will look like in heaven. As it has been written: "What no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, and has not entered into heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

So, in reply to “What is it like to be you?”, I’m saying it is a blessed life of living one day at a time, embracing each and every moment of it, celebrating that I’m a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In sickness and in health, in death, we will never part….because He’s prepared a heavenly place for me……and YOU! And, then, when asked "What is it like to be you?", our answer will always...for eternity be...."HEAVENLY!"

Help! I Need Directions!

I’m so thankful for my phone's GPS app. Such a time saver. Such a stress reliever. Such great comfort as I take so many road trips by myself. I remember the days of getting lost trying to find a location. I wonder how we made it so well before GPS? How did they make it in the old days before pavement roads or signs? Oh, I know. God was with them, just like He is so present with us today.

While my car wasn't starting on Saturday and trying to resolve the issue, I was going through my car’s Owner’s Manual to try to find an answer to the problem. Besides the car not starting, the outside lights would not turn off. I knew the battery would drain if I couldn't figure it out. The outside lights were on “Automatic” and the manual said I needed to “turn” the knob to “Off”, but the knob was stuck. It wouldn’t turn. Instead of unsticking it, I pushed the knob casing right into the dashboard. Lord, have mercy! I thought: "Something else to be charged for at the repair shop!" I tried grabbing hold of it to pull it out, but couldn’t get it to stay. I used a large screwdriver and pliers – but nada! I quit trying and went back to my prayer time and again, that scripture came to me “Do not fear. Only believe.” Shortly after that I remembered my small eyeglasses screwdriver, used it to pop it back in! And, whoa-la, and praise God -- it worked!

Seriously, my friends, I know it’s not a magic potion, but I know God is with me. He is with us. His Holy Spirit is in us and He knows everything about everything. He is our wisdom provider, our common-sense initiator, our comfort-giver, and our source of any and everything we need. He is so much more than a GPS!

I’m hearing the message loud and clear – that we should be communicating with Him as we would with a friend with us in the car, or, across the table from us. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 Those ways include car troubles, family troubles, and life troubles. They include good times and not-so-good times.

Having a little conversation with Him Who knows everything about everything -- provides directions when and to where we want to go. That's huge when we consider those who refuse to ask for directions -- men AND women. They'll go around the same block or same area of town over and over again before they're willing to ask directions. But, in this case.....if we just have a little one-on-one with Him Who is the Supreme KNOW-IT-ALL, He will direct our paths. We'll get to our destination in record time, even get cars repaired. Expert advice!

Perhaps you're looking for direction on decisions that you are having to make today. Just maybe this "Word" is your "Word" too. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways (while driving, washing dishes, mowing the lawn, waiting in a store line, etc., acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Write the Vision and Make it Plain

When my daughter was single, she made quite the list (100 items to be exact) of all the qualities she was hoping for in a future husband. She wrote out her vision and she made it VERY plain. When Larry came along, initially, he was about 95 out of the 100. But, the longer they knew each other and fell in love, every single one of those items was checked off her list and he measured up to her greatest desires. I thank God every day for my amazing son!

Monday night I was visiting with a successful young woman. She has a good – no, great job with a title of influence plus the salary to match, but she is dissatisfied and completely unfulfilled. Her greatest desire is to be in a third world country, defending marginalized people, bringing aid and assistance to them and making a real difference in their lives. Not only her job, but she also desires a husband, a family and to personally fill cared for and loved. Seems like a tall order, right?

But, not so when the Bible gives us many promises to hold near and dear to our hearts. I gave her this scripture that has served our family well. Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision. Make it plain so that he who reads it, can run with it.” It’s writing out a vision (making a list) and giving it in prayer to God.

That scripture partly explains how to get into position for the vision to become reality. I told that young woman to write down every single desire she has for her future: her job and ministry, a husband, children, satisfaction, peace, security, etc. Then I went on to explain, “When we write our vision down, making it precise and plain, our angels who accompany us 24/7 can read it and run after it. Hebrews 1:14 says “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Our angels are dispatched to bring about the reality of that vision. The caveat is “your positioning”. Here is how to get into position for your dream job, your dream husband or wife, your dream children, and your peace and satisfaction. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: 1) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; 2) Lean not to your own understanding; 3) Acknowledge Him, and then, He will direct your paths.”

To write a vision without the counsel and wisdom of God is just an exercise of wants and wishes. It’s like treating God as a genie in a lamp or treating Him like a slot machine. But, to write a vision and make it plain while acknowledging the presence, the wisdom and the counsel of God and trusting Him in His perfect timing puts our angels on dispatch for bringing about what our list entails.

So make that list…..in pencil and then give God the pen to ensure the BEST-LAID plans are His plans!

When We Allow God to Fill in the Blanks

One of my friends recently posted that she was well underway with filling in the blanks on her 2019 calendar. She must accomplish this feat because she has three children and with getting them to school and to their music and voice lessons, sports practices and games, as well as her own responsibilities as a wife, businesswoman, and mother, it is essential. I recall those times with my children and though I'm distant from those schedules now, I know them when I’m caring for my grandsons in Austin. Their mother is so on-point for me. She provides me with their full-of-activities calendars and she includes phone numbers of teachers, coaches, and friends that I can call if something’s just not right.

I'm thankful for my iPhone calendar that I've learned to make an entry for important dates and appointments. Then there are blanks to be filled in on forms. Who really enjoys going to a medical appointment and having to fill in all those questions? We like it when we've completed forms, outlines, and calendars. It feels so good once all those blanks are filled in. All the gaps closed. All the details disclosed. And all the why questions answered to our satisfaction.

But that’s not the way life is. Some questions should be blank. They just don't have a right or wrong answer. That’s the way God wants it. Our all-knowing God not only allows us to NOT know all the answers but He actually designed life to be that way.

Without blanks in our lives, we would have no room for Him to enter in and write His answers. For Him to become the WAY when there is no way. For Him to be the TRUTH when lies are consuming our thoughts. For Him to be the LIFE He’s designed for us to have on the other side of our insistence to control our stories and be the author of them. Our God is not forgetful. He doesn't make mistakes. He allows spaces and blank places. He leaves room for providential circumstances and surprises and His perfect plan to be working in our lives. If we had all the blanks filled in, we would explain away God’s part in our story. God doesn’t want to be explained away. He wants to be invited in. He wants us to make room for His additions to our story.

Remember just a few days ago when we heard the “No room” part of the Christmas Story? God was told, “There is no room,” and He turned an ordinary stable into an extraordinary place of worship. "No room” became a message for us to take to heart daily. When there is “No room” for God’s intervention, then we fill our rooms and spaces with stuff. But when we allow Him to step in, He creates “moments of amazing grace”, divine interventions and makes circumstances be certain God-winks.

Are the blanks and unanswered questions of your life providing space for God, the way-maker, the chain-breaker, pain-taker, the soul-saver, sin-forgiver, hope-giver Who provide the answers?

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 (will fill in the blanks).”

Trusting God When It Doesn't Make Sense

Yesterday I posted about the times when we are afraid to trust. We have a host of reasons to have a problem with trusting, especially when it comes to relationships and when someone broke our hearts or when dreams crushed or when we’re let down by a sickness reoccurrence. But we have proof of those who weathered their crisis by trusting in God’s promises and Word and came out stronger than ever before. Their test became their testimony and their mess became a message that others witnessed and they, too, learned to trust.

In the joyous Christmas atmosphere with my fireplace warming me, my eyes take notice of this treasured figurine of "The Holy Family" across the room. It was a gift to us by a dear friend on the occasion of re-saying our marriage vows at Christmas. I start to ponder the unimaginable trust found in the Christmas Story. It’s a true story that boggles our minds. This true story is unparalleled in trust. God invited people from different stations in life to become a part of history. The lowly, outcast shepherds. An unmarried, innocent girl. An expectant husband-to-be. Well-educated men from another country. All of those characters had to draw upon some new level of trust and belief to become part of the “Chronicles of Bethlehem”. Each person had to rely on an inner sense of conviction. What they saw, how they reacted, and what they did, demanded an internal “knowing” that trust was the best choice, God’s choice.

Think about trust in the roles those characters played: Mary had to believe Gabriel, the angel of God when he appeared to her. She chose to say “Yes” to his message. Joseph believed that God spoke to him in a dream. Mary had to trust and rely on Joseph for leadership and direction. Joseph believed in her innocence. They leaned on one another for support as God continued to “direct their steps” (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Mary, Joseph, the Magi, and the shepherds had a choice. They believed the angelic visits. The star in the sky and the dreams were signs of God’s direction. Each of the characters believed they had a role to play and each of them relied on God's guidance. They were positioned to be a part of a miraculous and eternal story-line, and they submitted to it.

Now, here’s the “Chronicles of Dallas or Tulsa or Phoenix" or whatever town you and I are in today”, God is writing our story. Mary and Joseph only received one piece of information at a time. Still, they continued to walk in the grace and guidance that had been given to them. Trust enabled Joseph to marry Mary. Trust caused them to leave Bethlehem and travel to Egypt. They returned and lived in Nazareth. God guided. God provided.

What about our stories? Right now you might be right in the middle of trying to find your way in business, in relationships, in your health. Trust will keep you steadfast and immoveable -- not the trust found in partners in business or family and friends or even in the medical report you just received. Trust is our complete reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of God. It is simply the confidence that we place in "our all-sufficient One". Our pennies bear the quote "In God We Trust".
That is the trust of all the characters in the Christmas Story. That is the trust that God wants His children to have in Him. May we trust God implicitly, then trust our sovereign God to be in the people and in the situations of our lives.

What is Blocking Your View?

IWhat is Blocking Your View?

If you’ve been a musician in an orchestra, you know that seeing the conductor throughout the symphony, is of paramount importance. That’s why you’ll notice that the placement of every chair is in direct eyes' view of the one that is directing and leading the music. The conductor is responsible for the start of the symphony, setting the tempo, ensuring correct entries by various members of the orchestra and communicating to the musicians through hand and eye gestures.

The question is….who or what is blocking the view of YOUR Conductor? Maybe someone mistreated or spoke falsely about you. That one is all you can think about, so they are keeping you from seeing your Conductor. Maybe your children are blocking your view of the Conductor. Maybe your financial or health situation or the stress and press of the holidays are blocking your view. The point is – anything that keeps our eyes from seeing from first seeing our Conductor is what causes our faith to wane. The anxiety of our circumstances is what keep us from focusing on our Lord. “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 paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6. When we keep our eyes on Him -- He will handle the symphony of our lives.

When we focus on the ONE who said, "I am the LIGHT of the world, whoever follows ME, will NEVER walk in darkness" (John 8:12), then the darkness will diminish. As we're drawn to focus on and spend time with the LIGHT, (our Conductor) and stay in fellowship with HIM, spending time in His Word, thinking about HIM -- our Conductor and He Who knows everything about everything, the answers we need will come from Him. The divine set-ups and divine appointments and the divine "suddenlies" will start providing what we need. Our music will reflect His tempo, His starts and His finishes of our symphony.

Maybe it's time to get a new seat in the orchestra -- one that SEES our Conductor -- His hand gestures and His eyes that are on us. His LIGHT shines so brightly and desires to dispel the darkness that is around us. I promise you, He is the most reliable Counselor, the most indescribable Prince of Peace and the ultimate source for restoring LIGHT to our world as the Conductor of our "unfinished" symphony!

What WAZE You Down? Are You "Direction" Challenged?

For some time my son, Larry, was encouraging me to use the "free" Waze app on my phone. He told me that it was a much better option than any other GPS system or app. I tried using it but still didn't trust it when it would take me off the beaten path to get to my destination. But, in my many travels over the last 10 months, I've become more familiar with it and have found that it is quite trustworthy. Still there's that notion that I don't completely trust him (I have an Englishmen's voice instead of the female voice on my Waze app. What can I say -- I still enjoy hearing a man's voice direct me!") But yesterday morning I headed out for an appointment to an unfamiliar location so I asked Mr. Waze for directions. He gave me exactly opposite of where I needed to go. He wasn't making sense, so I did it my way. Sure enough, my way led to a completely closed road which detoured me back the way Mr. Waze wanted me to go. He knew what was best for me.

Maybe this is somewhat of a promo for Waze because I want my friends to get to their destination with less stress and anxiety. Waze helps do that. This isn't a scheme to get you to buy something, but it is a suggestion to download this app that seems to know everything about the roads and places around us. Here's the way Waze works. People, like you and me, work together toward a common goal to outsmart traffic and get everyone the best and fastest route to where they need to go. It tells us about traffic and it gives us a heads-up about police, accidents, road hazards and traffic jams -- which Waze knows because other drivers are providing the real time information. You can even navigate it to the best priced gas station on your route because the Waze community shares best gas prices. I love that --"people helping people"!

As I navigated my way back around to get get to my appointment, I scolded myself for thinking, once again, "MY way is better". I thought "If only I'd followed his directions, I wouldn't be late for my appointment!" The most sophisticated directional technology in the world is not much help if we won't follow its directions.

And it's the same with listening and following the directions of He Who knows everything about everything and is ALWAYS accurate in His course directions. When we follow God's instructions, and not waver off the path He's laid out for us, or think "my way is better"...then, there will be no anxiety or concern about getting lost -- He'll make sure we'll get to where we need to go, and arrive when we need to get there!!

Once again this scripture that I often post still applies and it merits repeating today. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

LORD, Let Me Let YOU Lead Me!

I was having a sweet time of morning devotion when I looked at this mug that sits on my dining room table. I purchased this mug a while ago as a reminder WHO is supposed to be leading in this "romance" and journey of faith between God and I. This day, I got the message, loud and clear!

By nature, I gravitate toward being a leader and really have to pull my reins in to be a follower -- especially since I'm "single" now and must make many decisions on my own. But, even as a trustworthy leader, I should still be submitting to THE LEADER who promises to make my way successful when I allow Him to lead in EVERY way. How many times have I started out on a project or plan -- on my own -- and realized I was expecting God to make my way successful on the decisions I was making. I often take in this scripture verse regularly (like a prescription) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart (that's putting Him first) and lean not to your own understanding (that's putting me second), in all your ways acknowledge Him (that's putting Him first again) and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6 That scripture sets the record straight. In this relationship, He is the leader and I am the followers.

I get it. Our ultimate success comes from letting God lead us.

The truth is -- God IS here for us, so we don't have to go this journey alone -- trying to figure out what to do and when to do it. He's here to lead the way -- to fight the battles for us -- and to give us His grace for the journey

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be My disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me." Mark 8:3

Does Your Heart Need a Defibrillator (Your Spiritual Heart, that is)?

A few days ago I shared about the rhythms of our lives and if we trust God, He will set the tempo and even when there's ups and downs, we'll understand all the various rhythms can be by God's design. I knew I was supposed to move to Texas when my home in Tulsa sold with little effort. Maybe I was disillusioned into thinking I was moving to my Promised Land, to a "land flowing with milk and honey" instead of giants in the land. (Okay -- I'm thinking about Joshua and his spies checking out their Promised Land again.)

While I've had my share of "milk and honey", I've also run into some distractions (like the hail damage to my home, property insurance issues, a misjudgment on how close a car was in front of me that led to a collision, a flu bug that landed on me, indecisiveness about some other decisions, etc.), that my mind went into a "tilt" mode and I actually started thinking "Is this all because I moved to Texas?" Hmm! That also sounds like Joshua's crowd "Yes, there's milk and honey there, but we're like grasshoppers compared to them!" This "side" was supposed to have been the "greener" side. Wah! Wah! Wah! Doesn't that sound like Debbie "Downer"? LOL!

It wasn't long before I knew I was exactly in the place God wanted me to be OR the enemy wouldn't be nagging at me so much. I needed to heed my Father's words, from the outset, "Trust Me!" Those adversities had me out of rhythm. It occurred to me -- I wasn't handling the adversity the right way, because adversity can actually restore our prayer and praise rhythm and resurrect our relationship with our Father Who loves us, cares for us and knows what's best for us. When we apply the "defibrillator" of praying AND praising, those dead emotions and attitudes of defeat will be destroyed and replaced by unstoppable and audacious faith in God's Word and promises that we MUST HAVE in the days we're living in!

I shared that my car had to be towed into the Buick dealership because it wouldn't start. Of all things, it wouldn't start because the gas tank was empty, even though the indicator said there was gas in it. I was facing an $1100 repair. My heart got its heartbeat back when I started praying and praising AND when I was told "The $1100 will be taken care of by your extended warranty!" It was like the Jericho walls came tumbling down. Yes, I prayed, but I needed to praise after I prayed -- because I could trust in Him who said "Trust Me!" Prayer is asking God to do something (future tense) and praise is believing that God has already done it -- past tense -- just like when God told Joshua (before the walls came down) "“Look! I have given Jericho over to your control" (Joshua 6:2). The defibrillator of prayer and praise set Joshua and his troops to walking, and my feet dancing and my heart pumping strong on God's unfailing love and grace.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Again....Proverbs 3:5-6

Again....Proverbs 3:5-6
Yesterday, my post was around that scripture "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 paths". I had just pushed the "Post" button, and then checked my emails. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I read Dr. Jim Denison's email. As I read his words, I knew they were words "in due season" for all of us -- not to judge others, but to judge ourselves. There, but the grace of God, go you or I. Today, I pray for Tiger Woods and his family, and I pray for him to have a MAJOR come-to God AND come-back to golf!

Tiger Woods explains his arrest in Florida
Dr. Jim Denison | May 30, 2017
Tiger Woods was arrested yesterday in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. His mugshot with drooping eyes and frazzled hair soon went viral. He later issued a statement that is making headlines this morning, claiming that "alcohol was not involved" and citing "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medication."

Whatever the cause of his arrest, it is another sad chapter in a story that was once so promising. I remember when Woods seemed destined to pass Jack Nicklaus' eighteen major championships on the way to recognition as the greatest golfer of all time. After winning the US Open in 2008, he had fourteen major titles and was in the prime of his career.

A year later, he drove his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree. Media scrutiny led to revelations of marital infidelities. He and his wife divorced the next year. Woods has not won a major tournament since.

The day before Woods's arrest, Bernhard Langer became the first man to win all five senior major golf championships. I watched his victory on television and the interview in which he was asked to comment on his record-breaking success.

Langer complimented the player who came in second, then stated that he had been carrying a piece of paper with him during the round and would like to read what it said. He then read Proverbs 3:5–6 to the national TV audience and testified that his relationship with Christ was more fulfilling for him than golf or any other priority.

Scripture testifies that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), including Tiger Woods and Bernhard Langer. The difference is that the latter admits he needs salvation by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9) while the former does not.

The stories of Tiger Woods and Bernhard Langer teach the same truth: material success cannot quench spiritual thirst. This is what philosophers call a "category mistake," like asking the color of seven or how much friendship weighs. Only the Spirit can fill our spiritual void with "a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14)."

I Knew Back-to-School Drama

#TBT I Knew Back-to-School Drama!
It's that time of year when kids are getting back to school or going to school for the first time. This photo inspiration from 42 years ago was my two kids' first day of school -- Staci in first grade and Ryan in 3rd. Sweet memories, and, oh my, how time did fly!!

I've been seeing lots of Mamas on Facebook who are either stoked that school is back in session or they're all emotional because their "babies" are headed to school for the first time. There are the Mamas who have a Senior in high school and they're teary-eyed because it's their last year. And, then there is one like my friend whose son had his first experience as a Freshman in Bishop Kelley High School, the "Kiss your Mom Good-bye" tradition where Seniors make all kinds of crazy posters telling the freshman to "pucker up," and kiss your Mom good-bye as the Moms drive them up to the school. She said her son, who was never embarrassed to give her a hug or kiss good-bye, was mortified. But he did -- and the Seniors screamed and cheered. She said she was more embarrassed than her newly minted Freshman -- especially with videographers there.

And then, I love seeing how the friends of these Moms are either comforting them and assuring them that they'll get through all the emotions.....or the friends who believe "misery loves company" and they're crying right along with them. No question, it's a process of coming to grips with the cycle of life.

No matter what year or what grade they're in, these kids are embarking on a new stage in their lives. So many trails to blaze, so many new frontiers to discover and so many defining moments await them. In the meantime, my heart goes out to each of you young parents -- it's part of the process of giving our babies the freedom to grow up, to be strong and independent. Their trajectory is preset by God -- they are on course for so many great things and great days ahead. Taking one day at a time and one year at time.....makes the process easier. I pray comfort and God's peace to you all -- whatever stage of life YOU are in, and THEY are in. God's Master Plan is at work in you and your family.....and with His arms around you and them.....you'll see the joys, fun and the incredibly brilliant times of seeing your little darlings do so well on science and art projects, field trips, tests, homework and learning so many wonderful things. There are so many victories that await you and them. Your greatest assets are continuing to become more valuable each and every day.

Oh, how we thank God for the gift of children. I pray, Almighty God, that you watch over them as they start to school or go back to school this year. I pray You keep them safe. May these precious children realize You are right there with them in the classroom and on the playground. May they soak up good knowledge and may they be fully equipped to dismiss any negative messages they may hear or see. Help them treat others with kindness and respect, and may their hearts be guarded with the armor of Your Word. I ask that You give them joy and peace as they put their trust in you. I pray that they "increase in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man" -- just like Jesus did. And I pray a special blessing over the teachers and school workers as they help impact all of these kids. And, dear God, please give all these precious Moms and Dad the fortitude and the strength to place their babies into your hands -- with full confidence that you are taking them to their destiny and purpose. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

Are You a Control Freak?

That was our discussion at Life Group last night. After hearing a most compelling message on Sunday about "surrendering our need to control", it seemed all of us, in one way or the other, realized we just might have some "control" issues. I didn't think of myself as being a controller until the example was used of "having to have the bath towels folded in a certain way". Oh me! That's me. I get a little frustrated when I see someone folding towels with the tag up and the ends are all different on every towel. I told the girls "I heard that message and remembered how, at James Mission, when we were sorting and folding clothes, I would go behind the other girls and refold what they had already folded. What in the world? Who knew? But after hearing that message, I was pegged as a "controller"!

Maybe you are a "control freak" or least live with one? Maybe it's better to say "have control issues". You know -- the one that MUST be in charge of the remote control. Or the one that is telling the driver how to drive and where to turn and how fast to go. Or how about the helicopter parents (the overprotective parents) that hover over every move of their kids. That's considered a "control freak". Pastor Craig admitted to being a control freak too. He said there are days that the fingerprints on their back windows and doors really freak him out, because he wants that beautiful view of his backyard. But, he came to realize that the day would soon come when all the kids have left home and on their own, that he'd long to see those little fingerprints again. I wanted to whisper in his ear...."Oh, you will -- when the grandkids show up!"

Bottom line.....it's time to let go of having to control. It's time to choose "surrender" over "control". Submitting instead of controlling. I think God's Word says it best in Proverbs 3:5-6 (my favorite verse -- and one I need to practice more and more) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways, SUBMIT to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

May God help us loosen our grip on control. May we surrender all to He Who knows best, guides best, and guides best.

Ever Felt Like You Were Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall…. OR a Glass Window?

While up at our Hyde Park clubhouse on Wednesday, I kept hearing a bird banging into the windows, over and over again. On Thursday, one of my friends sent this text to me: “Drama at the clubhouse today -- a female bird keeps flying into the window from the maple tree -- male just moving from fence to branches watching her -- she must feel the mating dance is a fate worse than death. I'm sure she sees her reflection. It would be laughable except that she will likely succeed in breaking her neck.” LOL!

I was up at the clubhouse again yesterday and I captured this looney bird in action with this photo. She is definitely a "head banger"! Maybe that's where "bird brain" came from. LOL! Of course, this would be my inspiration for today’s blog. We’ve all been there. We’ve tried to accomplish something and so many interferences kept us from it. We’ve tried to teach our child a skill and it seemed hopeless. We’ve tried to lose weight only to gain more than we lost.

As I type this post, I'm up at the clubhouse and that crazee bird continues to bang into the windows, but she will not break through that barrier no matter how hard she tries. I’m watching her and she’ll bang into it, and then fall to the ground, but she recovers and goes at it again.

Albert Einstein is credited with this quote, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I would highly suggest this bird AND those of us who keep riding a "dead horse" fall into that category. It's time to dismount and get a fresh new horse and a fresh new idea....that comes from "in all our ways, acknowledging our ALL-KNOWING Father God.

We will continue to bang our heads against a brick wall or a glass window as long as we are deceived into thinking “It’s my way or the highway”, I can make this happen, I am invincible and when all along, God has the open door and window for us to step through. He wants us to “let go and let Him” be our source of wisdom, knowledge and strength.

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 paths”. My interpretation “And He will keep you from banging your head against the brick walls and the glass windows. God knows the way in, through, over and under to the answers we need.

Pay ATTENTION!

Goodness gracious! I love my GPS system. They're so much better than those old folded up maps. Those "Global Positioning Systems" are found in vehicles and on smartphones all over the world. And, I’m so grateful to be here at this time to take advantage of this amazing technology. That gal in the GPS knows where to go and she even redirects us if we get off the beaten path.

So, yesterday I was making my trek to Texas to see my Frisco kids. My brag was "I don’t need my GPS to get to my Frisco family – I think my car goes on auto pilot when I go there because I’ve travelled that route many times!!"

Well, that's the "brag" when I'm paying attention to my driving. I was talking on the phone to my sister-in-law (using my car's hands-free) and all carried away in conversation, saw the exit up ahead and took it. I had driven for probably 10 miles before I realized, this road doesn't look familiar and neither did the towns I was going through. Well, at least I'm going West and that's the direction I need to be going. NOT! I stopped at a service station and asked "Can I take this road to Atoka?" And the attendant said, "Yes, just take this road on for 10 miles and then go south on Hwy 75." First off, I asked the wrong question. I should have said "Should I turn around and go back to the turnpike to Dallas?" As it turned out, I went through major road construction on 2-lane roads, through little towns, and I went out of my way over 45-minutes -- BACK to Atoka and not going South to Dallas. I got to Frisco at 8:15 pm instead of 7:30 pm.

Back to that awesome GPS system. And, more importantly, back to focus and being present in the moment and not allowing distractions to keep us from our goals. The most sophisticated directional technology in the world is not much help if we don't use it and won't follow its directions. My goodness, if I had kept going West, I could have ended up in New Mexico! LOL!

And, our most supreme, all-knowing God can't speak to us and give us directions for driving AND living, when we're caught up in "our own little world" either. If we simply PAY ATTENTION to the road, listen to God's voice and follow His instructions... then, there will be no question about getting lost -- He'll ensure we'll get to where we need to go!!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessing or Curse?

I'll admit I was quite amped up with excitement when I saw gas prices yesterday (Kum n Go was $1.43/gal and Sam's Club -- where I purchased -- was $1.38/gal).   Though my car wasn't on empty, I filled it up just in case that number changes today.  A few months ago, when I posted about the low gas prices, a friend of mine commented "what a shame that so many people in the gas & oil businesses are losing their jobs and are suffering because of those low prices".  I think I replied "Let's keep them in our prayers."

I heard a sermon last week about this scenario and it was coupled with the craziness of the torrential rainfall in the Texas area, especially when it has usually been drought conditions.  The pastor said that Texas has received history-making downpours of rain.  I reminder last summer how my kids' neighborhood in Texas was under water restrictions -- no watering their lawns, washing cars, etc.

Think about it....when it rains so much, we are happy that our lakes and rivers are filled, our lawns are watered, farmers are ecstatic that their crops are getting the moisture they need to produce a healthy harvest.  But at the same time, there are people that are quite dismayed that their work depends on "no rain" -- building contractors, landscapers, road construction workers, painters, etc.

Plummeting gas prices means winning at the gas pump for us, but the obvious losers are energy companies and their employees.  There are winners and losers in the continued decline in the price of oil. The obvious winners are consumers at the gas pump. The obvious losers are energy companies. And it will have a ripple effect on other industries.  The same with the weather.....building costs and other industries will sky rocket if the workers can't work.

So REALLY, who are the big winners -- regardless of what the weather or the economy and our future holds?  I don't profess to know the answers, but I DO KNOW the ONE who does, and He gave us His Word to guide us.  Take hold of His promises....and, for sure, our future is so bright, we need shades!

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."