He Goes Above and Beyond

Yesterday, I spoke about the “exceeding abundantly” greatness of God. He goes above and beyond all we could ask or think – when we move out of the way – and let Him step into lives. I’ll tell you some more of those times in ours.

Our daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby after she had pneumonia many times. But then, God gave us above and beyond our prayers when she was completely healed. Now, I watch her in action every day – using her lungs – where the enemy messed with her – to sing and speak about the Good News of God everywhere she goes. I have a simple taste of what Mary, the Mother of our Lord, must have felt when her Baby Boy started setting the world on fire with His exploits.

Our son was born with club feet and today he’s run over 52 full marathons. But, beyond that, that little boy who had a spark of sales abilities from a young cub scout selling the most Scout-a-Rama tickets, took the “above and beyond” mentality to a whole new level as a man. He came up with ingenious ideas, aligned himself with those who have the ability to make those ideas become a reality. He recognizes “the God-factor” and if you were to ask him how he does it, he admits that the products/services he and his team deliver are simply the product of believing nothing is impossible with God.

And, me, a shy introverted girl, who had such low self-esteem in herself, met a multi-talented boy who already saw the “above and beyond” potential and brought out everything he saw in me and more. I’m here today to tell you – NOTHING and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God.

We were going down financially, but kept holding onto our faith and trust that God would turn it around for us. I’ll never forget the day when my husband boldly proclaimed: “I’m done with the lack mentality. It’s time for a kick-butt attitude. I’m going to speak to the developer and tell him I can help him get those properties sold. He audaciously asks for a 6,000 sqft home to market out of (and live) and BOOM – God did the above and beyond to take Ron’s faith and bold confidence to a BIG WIN for us and the developer. I wash you could see that gorgeous, thriving subdivision today.

I hope I don’t sound braggadocious about anything we did and do. I want the bragging-rights all spot-lighting the goodness and greatness of our God Who delivers on time – in His time and His ways if we let Him. Though we would like Him to more align Himself to our ways, when we let go and let God – He’ll do above and beyond in His time and His ways.

Why not let this be our year of boldly stepping out and taking some risks in order to go to a new level? What if we purposed to partner with God and His ability to go above and beyond with our thoughts and our prayers this year? To see the “above and beyond” made possible by a simple trust in God – the ONE Who with “Nothing is impossible”. Why not start now? Whatever it is you are believing for, take the limits off of our "above and beyond" God. Don't question Him or His timing. Be a risk taker - a true believer - you just might revolutionize and save a family, a business, a marriage, a project, a ministry, and a world!

Go Ahead...Raise the Bar....and Fly Over It

God certainly set the bar high for us when He said words like this: "Love your enemies!” “Have peace in the midst of storms!” “Overcome evil with good!” "Be perfect as I am perfect." "Don't judge and you will not be judged." "Have faith and don't doubt." "I've made you MORE than conquerors." He didn't give us much "just-get-by" wiggle room, did He?

I recently heard the twin Benham Brothers interviewed on TBN and Fox News discussing their new book AND the backstory from being dropped from HGTV before their new show, "Flip It Forward", set to premiere in October, was ever aired. The show would have helped families purchase homes they otherwise could not afford. They had warned HGTV before signing that they hold to their faith and wouldn't compromise their standards. "I feel HGTV got bullied," David Benham said. "There's an agenda that's out in America right now that demands silence, especially from men and women who profess Jesus Christ and hold to his standards."

I was surely impressed by their standards. They raised the bar in their lives. And, now, their businesses and missions have become even more successful without an HGTV presence. Isn't that just like God Who defends, approves and gives us the ability to soar above the circumstances?

God didn't create us for mediocrity. He created us in His image -- He makes the impossible, possible. He makes darkness, light. He makes can't, can. There's nothing mediocre about Him. So, His expectations for us are extremely HIGH! Why should we be satisfied with a just-get-by mindset, when we have a Father who is unlimited and abounding in love and favor toward us? And, if He didn't think it was possible, He would have never set such high standards for us. Everything we do should be done with excellence. When we are asked to go one mile, whether it be in a job, a project, or a service, we should be ready to go the second mile, too. That's raising the bar. Yes, our Father gives to us in an above-and-beyond measure, so His lead sets the bar high for us. It means we'll have to stretch out of our comfort zone, but I promise you, the benefits of stretching gives us rewards beyond our greatest expectations.

There’s just something about being a world-class athlete that can shoot himself above that bar and conquer it. And, there’s just something about a God-class, solid, undaunted and unchained Child of God who doesn’t settle for “so-so” or settle for "just a little compromise". We should be the standard for this world because we are bar-raisers. The higher we go and the higher we conquer…..others will want to follow our lead!

God didn’t set the bar high so that we would fail. He did it to show how high He can take us! Let's stop being satisfied with the status quo -- let's raise the bar, and be all He destined us to be and do!

Is Your "Faith Tank" Running on Empty?

Before I left for Austin on Sunday, I made sure to get my car filled with gas. I was thinking the closer I go South, maybe the gas shortage could create a “treasure hunt” to find gas – not to mention the price of gas might be higher as I travel further South also. I did notice, as I traveled South that there were empty gas stations – no gas available, so I was glad I had filled up before leaving Frisco.

I thought I’d stop in at my favorite gas station, Buc-ee's, and its ginormous store, At Buc-ee’s, you’ll find every snack and meal you can imagine, drink, home décor, Texas themed apparel and lots of Buc-ee’s name brand merchandise. Best of all, they have really nice and clean bathrooms -- and no waiting -- plenty room for busloads. This Buc-ee’s is just South of Temple, TX which is about 75 miles from my kids’ home in Austin. To my delight, even though there were plenty of their 60+ pumps shut down, they had plenty that were open at a gas price of $2.29 a gallon for unleaded gas. I filled up just in case Austin stations were low on gas. Unfortunately, Premium and Diesel gas wasn’t available.

On my way back home to Tulsa, yesterday, I went back to Buc-ee’s and even more pumps were shut down, but the few remaining, gave me the opportunity to fill up for my trip home and beyond.

Friends in my Frisco community told me that Dallas is having an unusual gasoline shortage. I posted about the craziness I encountered when I was filling my car up last Saturday. Apparently, the craziness was because word got out that Hurricane Harvey could cause massive gas shortages. As a result, thousands of people in our area rushed to gas pumps, which, if they were open, the line stretched for hours.

Isn’t that craziness like our culture today? People get all worked up about politics, a flu virus, global warming, Wall Street’s ups and downs, the cost of gasoline or the lack thereof. They watch dismal news stations 24-7 and they over-react and start complaining and expressing fear to those around them.

I’ll admit I was a bit cautious about traveling to Austin because I needed to be back home for meetings yesterday and if there was a gas shortage, I’d miss my must-be-at meetings. But, then I took a deep breath and settled my “unsettledness” with my favorite scripture “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways (the highways and byways) acknowledge Him, He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6). I like to think that my stopping at Buc-ee’s was Him directing my paths. He was there for me going AND coming!!

Maybe it’s time for us to look at our own lives and what we need to make it with a “full tank” of high octane fuel to be our best, but not just during short bursts or when we need to be at our “peak.” We want to live and maintain our full potential, to reach and sustain what is called “high performance.” High performance is that living “above and beyond” the fray. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Maybe it’s time for us to look at how our faith and attitude measures up during times like these. We need to consider is our "faith tank" full of high octane fuel to help us go the distance? An octane rating, or octane number, is a standard measure of the performance of an engine. How is your engine (your mind, will and emotions) running? Is it performing at its best? Our we running on the bare minimum of just aa little “God additive” with a thought towards Him occasionally in our day? Of course, He is always with us and never forsakes us, but what if we put in the premium fuel that includes “living in His presence” where we acknowledge Him regularly throughout our day and even spend time in His Word – soaking in the peace that passes understanding, the joy of the Lord which is our strength, the love that never fails and the confidence that "Our God reigns" and our God lives big in us. With that kind of "additive" how could we not be thriving and getting extra mileage for the journey?

Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?

Day 57 of Photo Inspirations -- Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?
Yesterday, out of the blue, I started looking at old Staci Michaels Ministries  "Above & Beyond" newsletters that we sent out monthly, 20 years ago in 1995.  I was reminded about the Pledge for Purity Program that she created and taught back then -- and led many young people to living a life of purity -- not just sexually, but in a lifestyle commitment of character, integrity, prayer life, devotion and pure relationships before God.  Recalling how passionate she was, I was reminded of how our culture has continued to lower its standards over the years, even to the point that living a life of purity "is just weird -- just not normal".  To say that "it doesn't matter", is saying "my marriage, my friendships and my relationship with God doesn't matter either".  Staci was teaching the Pledge for Purity Program before she and Larry met and they proved it was possible to live a life of purity.  In fact, they never kissed until their wedding day, and their beautiful marriage, today, continues to be a role model for others. They are leading by example.  They are STILL out their Pledge for Purity And, it really is proof of the scripture that she based the title of her newsletter from "And God will do exceeding abundantly ABOVE AND BEYOND, all you can ask or think, according to the power that works within you". Ephesians 3:20

As an absolute nudge from God to post this today, AFTER I had her newsletters laid out on my desk, a neighbor called.  She said, "I didn't realize you were Staci Michaels' Mom, until I saw your post about her being Mrs. North Carolina."  She went on to tell me about coming to Staci's Bible Study and bringing her niece with her. Her niece went through, and graduated from, the Pledge for Purity Program. And her niece kept that pledge in her heart until she later married. That conversation led me to go check out her niece's FB page.  When I did, I saw who her "besties" are, still today -- other graduates from the Pledge for Purity Program.

In a world of lowering standards to accommodate the "new way of thinking", it is such a joy to see how blessed we are when we realize how much God wants to use us and flow through us, and the most effective way to do that is to remember to strive to live a life of purity -- in every area of our lives.  "The Purer the Vessel the Greater the Flow". That's a line that Staci coined and I still pray that I am that vessel.  He wants to pour Himself through us and as we strive to live a life of purity in word, thought and deed.....the more He'll be able to do just that!  And, a final word....if your vessel is a little clogged with "stuff" -- it's okay. We can start fresh and new today.  God promises He'll make ALL THINGS NEW.  So why not YOU?  Why not TODAY?
#PledgeForPurity #AboveAndBeyond

Feeling Some Nudges? Having Some "Aha" Moments?

So you've been feeling some nudges, hearing some still small voices, having some "aha" moments? I'd like to suggest that God is trying to get through to you! If you are tight in your relationship with God -- you go to Him in prayer and study of His Word, you embrace His love and care for you, you KNOW Him -- then, it's definitely Him, and I highly encourage you to respond to His nudges.

And, when I talk about "nudges", I'm talking about the Holy Spirit Who Jesus promised would come when He went away. "However, I'm telling you the truth. It's for your advantage that I'm going away, because if I don't go away, the Helper/Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7.

I talk a lot about "being on assignment" -- and it's so simple to know what that assignment is when we realize He who knows everything about everything lives big in us. We don't have to jump through hoops or any other actions to merit His favor or love. He is our Father so we should just live "tuned in" to His nudges and still small voice and the "knowing" that He is leading and guiding us. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

So, let's start following Him -- His little nudges. He has so much wonder and awesome experiences awaiting us -- let's start pursuing them. We could take the "safe" route and the easy way by living a mundane life, or we can follow God’s impulses that lead to the "above and beyond" in our lives. Let's tune into the nudges that God is giving us -- those nudges to live, pursue, hunt, give, climb, dig, jump, walk, run, research, and focus on the assignment -- the nudges -- and the "aha" moments will surely follow close behind!