When You Choose HOPE, Anything is Possible

HOPE, means “the exciting expectation that something GOOD is about to happen”. Yesterday, I knew what that's about -- based on my grandchildren's GREAT EXPECTATIONS about what last night held for them. When the tickets could first be bought, my grandson, Payton Wallace purchased tickets for his whole family (me and his friend included) to the premier showing of the new Star Wars Rogue One movie. Needless to say, he is quite the avid Star Wars fan. Check out his bedroom decor' here! He has looked forward to the new movie since he first heard it was coming out. When my Austin grandson, Brennan, heard about Payton going to the 10:30 pm showing last night in Frisco, he one-upped Payton and bought tickets for him and his friend to see it at the 7:30 pm showing in Austin. I love the "cousin" rivalry! Needless to say, their hope and great expectations became reality when we all saw it last night.

This post isn't so much about Star Wars as it is for us to be putting our hope and great expectations for our lives out there. Those of us who have experienced “expecting” a baby – know quite well, that it's a process. We don’t get half way through our pregnancy and say – “I’m through with this – I’m done with ‘expecting’!” No, we know it’s a process, and if we patiently wait for “the appointed time” of delivery, we’ll be blessed with a precious bundle of love and joy. Payton and Brennan, and the rest of us for that matter, did our best to patiently wait for this new episode of Star Wars and it was worth the wait.

This post really isn't about STAR Wars, but THE STAR of the show in this beautiful season of Advent -- expecting and waiting for Him. The birth of Christ gives us the hope, and possibility, that we can live life in a radical way – the way of trusting, believing, and expecting that all He’s promised us will be ours if we patiently wait for His perfect plan for our lives. During this beautiful season, may we find that place of peace -- a time of loving and deepening our relationship with God – delighting in Him. It’s a radical way of living, but the infant in the manger is a beautiful “memory” – our King of Kings is not there. He grew up, and He sacrificed His life so that we can live a life of hope and GREAT EXPECTATION.

Don’t give up! Keep your hope up! Get your EXPECTOR expecting! Remember ….. it’s a process! Your “baby” (your hopes, your dreams) will get here….and you’ll soon be blessed with God’s bundles of love and joy.

Barring a Miracle

Did you ever have someone say that to you about a medical condition, financial situation or personal relationship? Barring a miracle, you'll have only 6 months to live; barring a miracle, you'll have to declare bankruptcy; barring a miracle, a divorce is imminent.

I heard a minister say that when he and his wife were first married, the doctor told them, "Barring a miracle, you'll never be able to have children." He went on to introduce us to his two beautiful children, now teenagers, that his wife eventually gave birth to. And, I know many other couples who were told the same thing.....but they, too, received their MIRACLE.

I've seen sports games where the commentator said, "Barring a miracle, they're going to lose this game!" And moments or minutes later, in a swift turn-around, they won the game.

To my father-in-law, the doctors said, "Barring a miracle, you won't live beyond six months." He lived for another 15 years.

Knowing what I know and experiencing what I have experienced, I assure you, without a shadow of doubt....miracles really do still happen. That's why I'm optimistic enough to NEVER say "Never", and to NEVER say "It's impossible!" Those are words NOT in the vocabulary of those who truly take the limits off of God and what He says in His Word.

Jesus said, in Mark 9:23 "All things are possible to him who believes." Perhaps you needed this faith boost today. Maybe you've been given a "Barring a miracle......" report. MIRACLE is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. And that DIVINE AGENCY Who doesn't even have the word "IMPOSSIBLE" in HIS dictionary, wants us to take it OUT of ours. There is nothing that He can't do. God always has miracles up His sovereign sleeves, so let's get our EXPECTORS up and EXPECT our miracle TODAY!

I Not Only Believe I CAN Fly -- I AM Flying Today

For the last two days, I've focused on "flying" in my posts. Today I get to put my words to action as I fly from Washington to Texas where I'll be celebrating life with my family there.

Yesterday, I posted "I believe I can fly!" Let's take flying a step further. Remember Dumbo -- the Disney elephant character that had huge ears? He was so ridiculed and made fun of by other elephants, until he met Timothy Mouse that changed his life by helping him change his perspective. Timothy convinced Dumbo that his little feather had magical powers that could turn his ears into wings. He created a sense of hope and expectation in Dumbo that was missing. The more Dumbo BELIEVED "anything is possible", the more Dumbo was convinced he could fly. Finally, despite the voices of opposition from the crows, Dumbo rose to the challenge and elevated his faith with courage. He turned his doubt into faith and turned those huge ears into an asset that helped him fly.

What changed for Dumbo? That brilliant little mouse helped Dumbo see that the power to fly begins in the belief that it's possible to fly. Yes, Dumbo is a fairy tale, but even better for us, we have a God in whom "Nothing is impossible". When our hope and trust in Him rises, so does OUR perspective.

What are the "ears" or "voices" that might be the cause for your discouragement, rejection or weakness? The voices of others who say you can't, or the voice of Father God -- that voice of TRUTH and FAITH, that says "With God, all things are possible"? With those "ears", we can rise above our challenges, our past, and those voices of opposition. Dumbo could fly. I believe I can fly…..AND I believe YOU can, too!

#IBelieveICanFly #Dumbo #WithGodNothingIsImpossible

Barring a Miracle.....

Day 156 of Photo Inspirations -- Barring a Miracle........
Yesterday I heard the minister say that when he and his wife were first married, the doctor told them, "Barring a miracle, you'll never be able to have children."  He went on to tell us about the two beautiful children, now teenagers, that they eventually had.  And, I know many other couples who were told the same thing.....but they, too, received their MIRACLE.

I love watching those sports games where I hear the commentator say, "Barring a miracle, they're going to lose this game!"  And moments or minutes later, in a swift turn-around, they won the game.

To my father-in-law, the doctors said, "Barring a miracle, you won't live beyond six months."  He lived for another 15 years.

Knowing what I know and experiencing what I have experienced, I assure you, without a shadow of doubt....miracles really do still happen.  That's why I'm optimistic enough to NEVER say "Never", and to NEVER say "It's impossible!"    Those are words NOT in the vocabulary of those who truly take the limits off of God and what He says in His Word.

Jesus said, in Mark 9:23 "Anything is possible to him who believes."

Perhaps you needed this faith boost today.  Maybe you've been given a "Barring a miracle......" report.  MIRACLE is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.  And that DIVINE AGENCY Who doesn't even have the word "IMPOSSIBLE" in HIS dictionary, wants us to take it OUT of ours.  There is nothing that He can't do.   God always has miracles up His sovereign sleeves, so let's get our EXPECTORS up and EXPECT our miracle TODAY!