You Matter AND Your Vote Matters

When someone came into my space on Facebook and challenged my morals, my faith, and my confidence in my president, I think a new fervor for speaking up for what I believe-is-right went to a whole new level. That’s why, today, I am urging all my friends to register by the February 3rd deadline in Texas to be able to cast a ballot in March primaries and in the November election for president. (Check your state's registration deadlines!) If we want our voices heard, taking the steps to register to vote is critical.

I had already written this blog when I received an anonymous text message today asking me to complete a voter registration they supplied, to be sure I'm registered to vote. I typed in STOP because I am registered already. Then I received an email as seen below. Clearly it says it is not affiliated with any party but I checked out their sponsors and Planned Parenthood is one of them. So, clearly, this is not a bipartisan effort. BEWARE! I'm not prone to worry or concern because I know God is in control, but I am prone to knowing the tactics of the enemy of our souls.

I saw Dr. James Dobson's newsletter. He said: "Socialism could replace freedom and free enterprise. God help us if you and I fail to fulfill our moral responsibility.” He made it clear there will be dire consequences if Christians sit out our elections -- stressing that it carries much more weight than any other election in United States history. “Everything is on the line, and a wholly new interpretation of the Constitution looms before us."

Having advised five presidents and received his Ph.D. in Child Development from the University of Southern California (USC) – where he served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics for 14 years – Dobson’s counsel has been held in high esteem throughout America for many decades, and his latest piece of advice focuses on one topic that he said “rises to the top” over all others. “Powerful social movements and passions are ‘blowing in the wind,’ and most of them have dangerous implications for the institution of the family, religious liberty, our children and unborn babies – and the country at large.

"Christians must go to the polls and let their voices be heard” said the host of the Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk radio program – speaking with the authority of his 17 honorary degrees, 17 years’ experience on the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles’ attending staff, and as a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame – asked his supporters if they will take action-steps in order to continue living out their faith in America. “What will you do about it?” Will you sit out the elections? God help us if you and I fail to fulfill our moral responsibility. Everything is on the line.” We – the voters – have it within our power to protect our Constitution, preserve our democratic system of government, and secure the blessings of liberty for us and our posterity.” He implores Christians to do their duty by taking time to register and vote in the upcoming elections.

Now, back to Donna’s thoughts. I sincerely sense an urgency to rally the sleeping Christian giants who slept through the election of 2016. This year’s presidential election is even more serious. I vote because my morals and values are so closely tied to my Christian faith and what God’s Word says. How can we not vote when there are such critical issues of life and death and of God’s Word taken seriously or not? Voting confirms my commitment to stand-up for those morals and values and in so doing I get to choose who aligns or comes the closest with those beliefs. It is a privilege to live in a democracy-led country which enables us to vote in or vote out candidates that align or don’t align with our principles. If I don’t vote I shouldn't complain or whine about anything that's going on in our country. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Super Special Because of Who Created Us

Happy 13th Birthday, Super Bryson! So my precious Bryson, the youngest of my seven awesome grandkids, turns a big 13! What??? He’s a teenager now! How can it be? This boy that still holds my hand when we walk and still wants to sleep with me in that big king-sized bed in the guest bedroom. Oh, the joy he gives his Nana! His birthday is the day after his Papa’s graduation to heaven. How befitting that one day meant an earth to heaven departure and the next day represents a heaven on earth celebration of the life of a sweet boy who fills me up with so much joy.

I celebrated with him last week when I was in Austin while his mom and dad were away. This morning, he’ll open this birthday card and some dosh left over from the hat he wanted at Crux Climbing Center and the yo-yo – and, I might add -- that he has mastered quite amazingly – he’s got the “around-the-world” trick down that I taught him. This card awaits him this morning when the family will have their traditional "special plate" breakfast. This card represents last year that was filled with him taking his love for climbing trees, houses, poles, rock walls and fences (anything climbable) and taking it to a whole new level at the climbing wall gyms and yesterday, literally climbing a mountain with his instructor.

He still wants me to tell him "Super Bryson" stories at bedtime, but 13 means he tells me "Super Nana" stories. The most recent one was about Super Nana and how she was about to battle a bad guy that came out of a volcano but she had to put the bad guy on "pause" because she had to go write a blog. LOL! She finished the blog and went back and annialiated the bad guy. No question -- that story is inspired by them seeing me so devoted to my blogging!

While I'm celebrating my sweet boy's birthday today, I'm thinking about the most important thing we can do for others is to celebrate them and help them to know THEY MATTER. Why does it matter? Because it matters to our Creator. He specifically planned each of us individually and uniquely with the funny little quirky smile we might have, the color of our hair and eyes, the freckles on our nose. We are so special that His eyes are on us ALL the time. He knows everything about us. We're His special treasures......and He thinks about us ALL THE TIME....so shouldn't we think about others in a way that God uses our arms to hug them, our mouths to tell them how special and beautiful they are. After all, they're our sisters and our brothers in this royal family of God. I can't explain it in mere words, but God can, and here's why I am PRO-LIFE and what makes us ALL so SUPER special to Him:

Psalm 139:1-5;13-18 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!"

You Matter and You Are Loved!

You see all those leaves following from the trees? I’m here in Tulsa and the Oklahoma winds are blowing through with gusto which means the leaves must give way to the pull. Perhaps you see yourself as just another leaf on one of those trees that has seen its best days and is falling, falling, falling to the earth -- no longer feeling like you matter. Or maybe you feel like a snowflake in Colorado and you feel like no one really cares or notices you. You think that you really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. We’re entering into the most wonderful time of the year – well, for some of us, that is. Others may be already dreading the holidays because it means you are alone and you just can’t help but feel discouraged and forgotten. I’ve said it before and it’s worthy of a repeat. You DO matter.

Our greatest example of One Who gave His all to show how much we matter is Jesus Christ. Here are just a few of His “You Matter” projects: The beggar -- blind Bartimaeus. He mattered enough for Jesus to stop and heal him. (Mark 10:46-52) The woman caught in the act of adultery and her accusers were about to stone her, but Jesus displayed she mattered when He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:1-11). How about Jairus’ child who was sick and died? Death could not stop Jesus from healing her because Jairus and the little girl mattered. (Mark 5:21-43) Peter denied even knowing Jesus, but the greatest display of love, forgiveness and that he mattered was when Jesus said to him, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus’ ultimate act of showing us we matter, is when He laid down His life for you and me. The underlying fact is…..WE MATTER!

The most important thing we can do for others is to help them know they matter. Why does it matter? Because it matters to our Creator. He specifically planned each of us individually and uniquely with the funny little quirky smile we might have, the color of our hair and eyes, or the freckles on our nose. We are so special that His eyes are on us ALL the time. He knows everything about us. We're His hand-designed treasures and He even thinks about us ALL THE TIME....so shouldn't we think about others in a way that God uses our arms to hug them and our mouths to tell them how special and beautiful they are? After all, they're our sisters and our brothers in this royal family of God. I can't explain it in mere words, but God sure can! Just take a look at how He masterfully and lovingly planned us and created us! We are ALL so special to Him. I hope these words by the Psalmist convince you of that!

Psalm 139:1-5; 13-18 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away, you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!"

Capital letters here to shout out loud and clear – YOU ARE LOVED and YOU MATTER!

YOU MATTER!!!

While on a long run in yesterday's mist and rain, I noted that kids still ride bicycles to school...even in the rain. I was impressed with the exercise they were getting and also with the security they sensed in crossing the busy street because of the watchful eye of a school crossing guard. Those kids matter to their parents and to that crossing guard. Teachers await them at the school. Those kids matter to their teachers who put in countless hours in preparation -- not to mention the patience and steadfastness they must have daily. They matter.

When I arrived back at the home of my Frisco family, morning leadership training and devotion was about to commence. Morning leadership means strategic reading from a leadership book with discussion following. Their book, this day, was "Primal Leadership" and the chapter was entitled "The Motivation to Change". "Self-Delusion" was a sub-heading. Under that heading, ways to correct distortions in self perception were identified. Staci asked the kids "What does "distortion to self perception mean?" Earlier she had noticed that both kids were mellow and not as energetic as they could be, so she said, "Payton, I asked you earlier if you could be more energetic and you said 'I'm always energetic'. That's distortion to self perception. You're NOT ALWAYS energetic." Great conversation ensued. These children matter to their parents enough, that they take time to instill great principles for success into them daily.

Following devotion, Staci said, "I love you two so much, maybe I should have another baby. After all, Janet Jackson is pregnant again at age 50 (Staci will be 47 this Thursday.) She proceeded to say, "I never thought I'd want another child but I think I could do it again!" Payton interrupted her and said, "Yes, Alexia, after Mom had ME, she was ready for more, but after she had YOU, she was like, oh dear, never again!" Alexia jumped in to correct his "distortion of reality" and said...."Actually, Payton, when Mom had you, she took one look at you and said, 'I can do better!" But when she had me, she realized I was as good as it gets and decided to stop at perfection!" LOL -- oh me, you can see I'm going to have plenty of content while here with the Wallaces for future posts!

The fact is.....when we care about others, we do things that show they matter. We say it in words and action. You matter so much to me that I write this FB post and blog everyday in hopes that it will encourage and bless you. God matters to me so much that I obeyed Him six years ago when I saw so much negativity on Facebook, and I heard from Him "Make a difference by putting out positivity." We show our world matters when we pray for peace; our country, state and city matter so much that we observe laws of the land and strive to make it a better place to live In. The poor and needy matter when we support causes and charities that benefit them. And, I'm here to tell you.....YOU Matter!

In this moment, in this place, regardless of your last name, your status on the team, the letter at the top of an exam, the amount of your paycheck, whether you live in a palace or a cardboard box, YOU MATTER. This season is all about HOW MUCH WE MATTER. God sent His only Son to this earth to take on human flesh, to suffer, die and rise again so we could live FOREVER with Him. WE MATTER.

Trust in THAT GREAT LOVE for you, trust in Him, BELIEVE the story and then HEAR ME NOW......YOU MATTER!!

Now, tell someone else they matter, too!