That's Onomatopoeia: POW, BOOM, BAM

My BFF from Tulsa came to see me on Thursday. We make every moment count when we’re together. We call ourselves “Ethel and Lucy” because we can sure have some hilarious (without even trying) times. We were in that mode at Hobby Lobby and then yesterday, just before she headed on her way to her destination, she thought she’d help me by tossing my newspaper to my porch, but her toss was less than exact. She threw it into a huge plant pot that was filled with water. LOL! Par for our course! But the best part of our friendship that truly makes us besties is our prayer times together. You know your friend is a BFF if they care enough about you to pray with and for you. That’s why we’re BFFs because we know enough about each other that we know the best of us is the Jesus in us…..and that’s what He would do if He had stopped by to see me and when He shows up, BOOM! That’s the word used for an explosion. And I like to think that it’s ZAPPING, SPLATTING, and SMASHING the enemy.

Sheila said, “Donna, I hear onomatopoeia coming from you!” She said that as I was praying I was OOHING and AWING. Onomatopoeia is the sound that a word makes and mimics the sound it describes. So when we say an onomatopoeic word, it sounds like the word we’re referring to. For example: “The CLANGING pots and pots woke the baby.” “The bacon SIZZLED in the pan.” “The race car driver REVVED the engine.” “She POPPED the balloon.” “The enemy CACKLES, GROWLS, and HISSES!” Say those words and you’ll actually hear the sounds of the object it is referring to.

So when Sheila said I was making the sound of OOH, AW and I later thought that I desire that my life be “onomatopoeia” – that my life has sound, expression, so that when others hear “Donna”, they are hearing the sound of joy, excitement, wonder, lightheartedness, life, liberated, cheer.”

I really want that. How about you? Don’t we want to be the most incredible version of ourselves throughout our lives? Don’t we want to have achieved our fullest potential and lived a life of relentless pursuit of God and His character? I know for a fact that I want to live my life in technicolor – not black and white. After all, God could have made all of His creation in black and white, but He said “Nah! I can do better than that!” Don’t you know that sound must have been a part of the creation process? BOOM – the skies were made. POW – the stars and the moon and sun brought light to the skies. KAPOW – trees, and vegetation appeared. SWISH – the waters flowed. CHIRP, BUZZ, MOO, NEIGH – and God created the animals.

I want to live my life with onomatopoeic expressions that say “I’m here, on purpose, to be and do and live and declare God lives in me big time, so this CLANGING and BUZZING and ROARING that comes from me is full of life, full of expression, full of determination to live a reckless abandoned life for God. I want my gravestone to say “SHE LIVED”! I want to leave my mark and my sound here. How about you?

BAM -- Be a Miracle!

Jesus gave us a command "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15. Our world may be to our next door neighbor, our community, state and around the world.

Yesterday afternoon, our two young missionaries, Payton Wallace and Alexia Wallace, returned home from Guatemala (along with the other 51 who were with them) -- exhausted – wanting a shower and just go to bed to regain their bearings at home. But, not before we squeezed them for as many details as we could get about their trip.

They were beaming as they shared about the 31 different locations where they ministered through skits, singing and speaking. They went to several schools where young people were hungry to hear the stories of Jesus and the love He has for them. I’m so thankful the Guatemalan government welcomes the Gospel being shared. The latest report is that over 3,500 people gave their hearts to Christ during their week of ministry. And if that wasn’t thrilling enough, the ways our student missionaries were touched by God, themselves, was the icing on the cake. Lots of stories of life transformation from the locals, as well as our own young people.

Of course, our little blondie, Alexia, attracted those beautiful brunette girls wanting to touch her hair, asking her what shampoo she uses. Girls will be girls – everywhere we go!

I was overcome with joy as I watched their tired eyes glisten as they shared so many stories of faith, the students who were touched in so many precious ways and the excitement to go back again next year.

I talked about this before they left in my daily FB post, but just to re-emphasize how beautiful it is for our kids to have these kinds of opportunities. As parents (and grandparents), we want and hope many things for our children. We want them to be well educated, well-rounded, kind and compassionate, athletic, musical, and the list goes on. I sincerely believe that there are ways to grow our children in ways that no sports team or high dollar vacation could ever compare to. If we believe we were created to give glory to God with our lives, then we probably believe that about the lives of our children as well. God can and will use each of us right where we are, if we submit to His plans for our lives and seek to love God and others every day. We don’t have to go anywhere special to be used by God.

However, I have seen, with my own eyes, how going on a mission trip can change the course of a life. Going on mission trips changed me countless times, so I know that He can do that with our kids, too. When we leave the comfort of our homes with the intent of being a blessing and serving others, I believe that it pleases God to answer those prayers we have for the hearts of our children to be changed in the process.

We know from God’s Word that it is better to give than receive. So, what if we actually lived that out in our lives and took our kids along for the ride? I realize there are many valid points for staying home and serving those in our communities, but if a foreign missions trip comes up for your children (and even you), then seize the opportunity.

"Being a miracle" is not only a blessing to the ones we're giving to, but somehow, the satisfaction of having helped someone, brings rewards that money can't buy and no one can ever take it away from us. What could ever compare to "being a miracle" in someone's world?