Letting the Whole World Know

We are seizing so many opportunities to share good news via technology. We sure need that good news! Facebook and FB Live, YouTube videos, teleconferencing, Instagram and other forms of communicating hope-filled messaging. Before the internet and social media, many of us Jesus followers were quite reclusive. Our faith stayed at home. Jesus “talk” was easy there. We’d pray around the dinner table or at bedtime for typical family needs. It was faith between us four and no more.

But, HELLO, 2020! Who would have thought, way back when, that we would, one day, be visually interacting with people around the world without leaving the comfort of our homes? We are seizing these opportunities to live our faith outloud online before countless numbers of people. Not to mention, when all doors closed for worship in our churches, that we could worship with our churches online. We are sharing great faith videos and images that encourage and build up each other. We've realized that we ARE the church to our world.

We have become evangelists and have been unleashed to spread the good news from behind a computer or a cell phone. I see you. You know who you are. You are the ones who share scriptures, prayers, quotes and videos bearing faith-filled and hope-filled messages.

When Jesus said in John 14:12, “And greater works than these (the works that He performed) will you do….”, He was foretelling about what we could accomplish. It is time for us to raise our voices even louder. As children of God, we are family! It’s time to keep putting faith-building, fear-destroying words out there. We never know whose life we might impact because of something we posted on social media. There is so much power in our words. When we change our words from complaining, whining, blaming or criticizing to faith-filled, encouraging, loving and caring words, we change our world.

Let’s be billboards that make God famous. We are missionaries because we are on a mission. We have been sent. We were sent the second the first spark of life flickered in our mother’s womb and now to wherever we are today and to whoever crosses our paths – via the street or the internet!

When we read Jesus words in Mark 16:15 to "Go into all the world and preach the good news", little did we realize we could do it right from the comfort of our homes. So, let's preach that good news today! So many need to hear it!

No More Overloading the Circuits!

The doorbell rings. It’s my thick-German-accent electrician and his partner -- here to take care of that blasted circuit breaker that keeps tripping. They come in with tools in hand. In my books, they are my mighty men of valor! I take them to my master bathroom from whence the issues started. I tell him: “This circuit breaker never tripped like this before.“ Der Obermann (the head man – I know a little German) starts to school me like a first grader. “That hairdryer –1875 watts. That heater – 1500 watts. Too much at one time. It’s not your circuit breaker. If you must use the heater at the same time, get an extension cord and run it from your bedroom. I’m 57-years-old. I’m in good shape but if I run too much or worry too much or eat too much, my body breaks down because it’s overloaded. That’s what you do with overloading your electric in here.” He pulls out the old receptacle and replaces it with a shiny “green light” one. He assures me my life will be better IF I use that extension cord for the heater. In a flash, they’re gone. And, whoa-la, this blog is on its way!

I have a friend who is going through a challenging time right now. One of those end-of-their-rope times that when all-else-fails, pray and ask others to pray because this is more than one person can handle. As soon as I began to read their text message to me, the song, “Who You Say I Am” comes to mind. I sent the YouTube video of it to them. I share it here with you just in case you could use a strong hand to hold onto you because your rope has become just a thread, too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgBB863p2vw

Perhaps you’re at the end of your rope because you are overloaded like my circuit breaker was. The hopelessness has come and you start to wonder “Am I the problem here? Did I cause this mess? Have I taken on more than I should have? Did I spend more than I should have? Did I overlook my family and friends too much? Did I neglect my time with God? Am I even worthy of God answering my prayers?”

In the midst of our struggles, we start to listen to the lies of the enemy that we’re worthless, hopeless, and powerless. But, don't go there. Not even for a minute. "Hold on, my child. Joy comes in the morning!" (Psalm 30:5) We must not let ourselves go there. We are children of Almighty God and we reflect His image. We have hearts full of hopes and desires. And when we give ourselves to Jesus, He empowers us with all the tools we need to be overcomers and everything we need to win. We were built for this life and with everything we need to be effective.

It’s sort of like what I was saying about that “blasted” circuit breaker. It was doing its best to BE what it was supposed to be, but I kept overdoing it and it couldn’t perform to its abilities. And, for us, along the way – life happens and one thing after another wears us down and we’re not as effective – physically, mentally and spiritually -- to press on. Here’s good news. We are not a factory-assembled product. “We are God’s masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10) and der oberste Mann, Gott (the head Man, God) is not going to let us let go of the thread of the rope. He is with us. Let’s unplug all the weights that are draining us and let’s find that sweet peace in He Who can handle it all.

Make Life an Epic Adventure

Yes, that first photo here is ME -- on a zip line! Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing!" She proved that as she overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians, fully embracing the adventures of life.

Adventures begin right from the womb. Infants soon become crawlers getting into everything. Toddlers figure out how to get out of their baby cribs. We'll even find them climbing pantry shelves. They live "on the edge"! Somehow, they survive those adventures, even though they'll get a few bumps and bruises along the way!

They are secure in their risk taking. Where did that confidence come from? They went from crawling to being confident enough to walk because they had family members who coaxed them, trained them, and who said over and over "You can do this!" They became more and more confident, and now there's no end to their grand, daring adventures.

Speaking of grand adventures, I’m here in Austin again with my two youngest grandsons. Creativity and adventure seem to be their mode of operation. I saw 10 bags (numbered 1 to 10) on the kitchen counter – with something in each one. Brennan (the 13-year old) commenced to set up a table outside and placed the bags on the table. He had the camera set up on a tripod because the Brennan “Challenge Your Bro” Show was about to be videoed. Oh the creativity and adventure of the young!

First, each boy picked 5 bags, and whatever was in the bag had to be poured into a bowl. Bryson (the 10 year old), opened his bags that included syrup, Cheetos, Catalina dressing, vinegar, and ketchup. Brennan’s was Hershey chocolate, mustard, honey, tomato soup and peanut butter

After pouring some of each into their bowls, they took their concoctions into the house and it was blending and tasting time -- 5 sips each. Oh my! I was thoroughly entertained by these boys and their epic, creative adventure that was filled with crazy antics, lots of gagging and uncontrollable laughter and fun.

Oh, but that adventure wasn’t enough – then the Brennan “Challenge Your Bro” Show included the “Bro” challenge of pumpkin carving. Both of his shows are soon to be on his YouTube channel. I was amazed as I watched him him spend hours on perfecting his video -- researching on Google how to add emojis and intros to it. He’s a self-taught producer.

Oh the places he will go because of that adventurous spirit. I was the judge and determined I couldn't choose a First Place Winner. After all, I am Nana which means I'm impartial. Besides, they were both too good, so Brennan said, "Let's do it the man way! Rock, paper scissors!" Bryson won! LOL!

I still want to live with that mindset of living out-loud, and being adventure bound. It doesn't take much to talk ourselves out of challenging ourselves and only seeking a comfort zone that makes us feel warm and fuzzy, but doesn’t help us stay alive to all the possibilities that this life holds.

We can know that kind of confidence -- whether we're taking a risk, or simply endeavoring to conquer a challenging situation that we may be in. God is coaxing us, telling us "You can do this!" I'm talking about putting our trust in God -- so much so -- that He becomes our safety harness and our security.

Sure, some of those risks present some bumps and bruises and some may even make us want to throw up – like my boys with their concoctions yesterday, but when we are confident in His ability and His ever watchful eye on us, we will go at it again and risk living life to the fullest, becoming like little kids and having some grand adventures.

In the great words of Dr Suess (from his "Oh the Places You Will Go")....

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai, Ali, Van, Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
SO....GET ON YOUR WAY!

What Color Is Your Angel?

Staci and I were getting out of the car at the store, when Staci ran over to a nearby parked car. One of the ladies was getting out all the tools needed to change a flat tire, while the other lady was looking at a YouTube video telling how to do it. (LOL! Thank God for the internet!) A baby was in the backseat of the car. It was a sight to behold. Everyone was in good spirits about their dilemma. Staci exclaimed “Let me help. And if we can’t fix it, I’ll call my husband, but in the meantime, let’s pray for an angel!” The words were no sooner out of her mouth, when a robust, beautiful African American man came over to the car, and took over this situation from this motley crew of women. Staci said, “I was praying for an angel to show up and my theory is true: Angels aren’t just white. They’re also black, which also verifies my theory that Jesus wasn’t white either.“ LOL! Oh my! Now we know where “And such is life with Lexi” comes from, because the originator of the “Such is life” came from her and it’s “And such is life with Staci!” By the way, the young man had the tire changed and the ladies were on their way in just a few minutes.

I’ve loved hanging out with my daughter since she was a little girl. Her humor was always one of her best attributes. She has always had the ability to make me laugh, and on this trip, she was in rare form again. The night before the party, one of Payton’s friends came over for the first time. Payton warns his friends, in advance, that they will be interrogated by his mother, and, oh yes, she did interrogate this young man. Questions like “Do you have a prison record?”, “Do you know how to use a gun?” “Do you have any secrets that we need to know about?” The young man, unshakened and prepared for the interrogation, fired back with equally quick and hilarious responses. I was so glad I was there to witness it.

In the tire-changing story, I saw my girl willing to step in and help some women in trouble. I’ve seen her do that before when at a car-crash scene, she runs to the victims and asks how she can help, and even prays for them. In the interrogation story, though she uses her straight face humor to inquire about the friends her kids are hanging out with, she cares enough about her kids to go there. And, at the same time, I saw those kids, Friday night, cheering for her to sing for them and hang with them. What’s that about? It’s the magnetic draw that God places in us when we abandon our comfort to be a light for those around us.

I wish I had my daughter’s quick wit and ability to be as responsive to the needs of others as she does. But, with the abilities God gave me, I can do what I can. And so can you. That light within us will shine at a mall, at a party filled with high energy kids, at a football field when a player is injured and a Mom says “Let’s pray” to those nearby, at a store when someone needs a smile or over the phone with a friend who needs to hear an encouraging voice. No matter “the style”, God wants us to be His ambassador or His ANGEL – His hands extended to a world that needs our humor, our generosity, our love and our care.

John 13:34-35
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

The Sweetest Kisses Last Forever

 Day 296 of Photo Inspirations -- The Sweetest Kisses Last Forever
#TBT So in looking through my photo archives, I came across these photos of sweet little kisses, from my sweetheart and I, to kissing our grandchildren, to our kids kissing each other.

Oh what precious memories those photos evoked! Thank you for indulging me once again on my life journey memories.  I wouldn't at all blame you if you just couldn't take yet one more photo of the Wuerch Family. Facebook is so awesome in providing space for journaling and celebrating memories. I just can't help myself. It's the stuff that brings so my joy to my life.

I googled to see what the benefits of kissing might be and I was quite amused when I googled "sweet kisses".  BTW -- if you don't know how to plant a good kiss, you'll find instructional YouTube videos that will show you how.

If only I'd had those videos when my sweetheart and I had our first "preplanned" kiss.  He called me and said, "Let's meet behind the church (after church) on Sunday night!"  We met and he threw me back in one of those Clark Gable kind of holds and kisses, and I got his breath mint in my mouth. LOL!  Sweet and fond memory.

But the best I found about "sweet" kissing was the benefits of kissing a baby.  I could have written that article because I can vouch that there are no sweeter kisses on earth than kissing a baby.  I think that's because they still have heaven's scent on them.  I found out that the beneficial aspects of holding a baby so close that he/she can hear your heart, to feel your warmth and your soft kisses actually has many health and psychological benefits!

Among them, a study published by Hendrie and Bower in the research journal Medical Hypotheses posited that kissing is a biological behavior which helps boost immunity and controls exposure to infection.  

AND, there are other benefits, as found by a psychologist at Lafayette College, of a link between kissing and decreasing cortisol levels, suggesting that kissing can actually decrease stress, which in turn, can help keep you healthier!    And, kissing is great for your emotional heart, your physical heart, and the heart you carry outside of your body.

I know "they say" that we're in the flu season and we should steer clear of passing germs around, but, on the other hand -- which would be worse -- a case of the flu, or missing out on the sweet love we receive and are able to give to those we love so dearly?

You're welcome!  This "kissing" commercial was brought to you by a Nana, Mom, Daughter and Friend that loves to express my love and appreciation --sometimes it's a kiss and sometimes it's a hug -- but either way, expessing our delight and joy in loving and caring just might make their day!  I know it sure makes mine!   Perhaps, someone in your world could use a kiss or a hug today!

I remember this statement from my school days..."Kissing spreads germs the doctors have stated......but kiss me, Babe, I'm vaccinated!