We're Everywhere and We will Change the World

Today is called “Ascension Sunday” in commemoration of Jesus "moving on up" to Glory! Well, the actual 40-days was last Thursday -- but it takes a glorious Sunday to join in a throng together (well, maybe not a throng in body, but in spirit) to rejoice -- not only that Jesus was raised from the dead, but eye witnesses saw Him showing up and speaking up to give them "famous last words" of teaching on how to be great witnesses for Him. Acts 1:3 verifies it: "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." I love that -- convincing proofs -- no fake news there! Hallelujah!

On the 40th day, Jesus took His apostles with Him to the Mount of Olives where they watched as He ascended to heaven. Oh, to have been an eyewitness! But, thank goodness, Jesus said in John 20:29 "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We believe! It gives me holy chills to think about it.

The last words of someone we love are typically the most important words because we hold them as a treasure. Listen to Jesus' parting words. "Go into all the world and preach the good news!" (Mark 16:15). Honestly, I've reconsidered what that looks like. Once upon a time, it was missionaries who were "sent out". But, here we are, still in the throes of the pandemic, and if ever Jesus words resound louder than ever -- it is during this time. Churches were closed but it didn't stop Christ's message from "going into all the world". We witnessed it via satellite, Zoom, social media, and many other ways.

Those who opposed and killed Jesus hoped it was a "done-deal". But, oh, contrare! Agnostics, atheists, and unbelievers -- then AND now -- must be surely disappointed. We are not hiding. We are EVERYWHERE! We need to keep reminding ourselves of that, especially when the negative voices, quarreling factions, undermining and dissentious groups try to convince us that we're a minority and on the losing team. It looked that way in Jesus' time on this earth. But, like the disciples who went on to change the world, we, too are commissioned to change our world and share the good news of love and hope -- everywhere!

There are massive numbers of us who are followers of His message. We are EVERYWHERE! It's a message we stake our lives upon. It's a message of undaunted faith and determination to love unconditionally -- even to those who oppose us so drastically. This opposition we face is not new at all. The message of Jesus will not be destroyed, stamped out, or washed from the face of the earth. The Good News of Jesus Christ still stands and still goes into the world.

Indeed, we are everywhere, and it is up to us to change our world. The more we realize the mandate of our Lord to be His devoted followers -- living out His ministry in words, actions and deeds, the more His message of love will be perpetuated. In this photo, Jesus is pointing His followers and you and me to "GO"! We are replying to that POINT: We will go, and no matter where we are -- WE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!

Time to Unleash the Lion Within

Time to Unleash the Lion Within
It's the 365th day of 2018. I made it -- 365 days of posting a positive word each day to, hopefully, bring inspiration to others. I've had to make sure to stay "in the zone" by seizing the moments, noticing little and big God-encounters, and recognizing that God is always speaking. I just had to tune in to His still small voice, and, often, His big booming voice as I witnessed His object lessons to me through nature, His Word, His kids, and His embrace. I showed up for my daily appointment with God, and He was faithful and ALWAYS showed up for me. And, please trust me, my meditations have increased my desires to grow even stronger in my faith and witness.

I was deeply inspired by the message my daughter spoke at Dwell Church yesterday. “It’s time to stop with the labels of abused, broken, sick, defeated, divorced, too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too afraid and realize WHO lives in us. It’s time for us to GET UP and pick up our “mats” and turn those labels into stories of strength and redemption and conquerors who change the world.” Her message made me start to think about how we keep Jesus in the manger way longer than we should. He is no longer there. He is the great “I Am”, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and it’s time to unleash the LION of the Tribe of Judah Who lives in us and let Him out. I love that song, "My God's not dead; He's surely alive. He's living on the inside; Roaring like a lion."

Revelation 5:5 “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory…..”

We’ve kept sweet, meek and mild, little baby Jesus in the manger long enough. We’ve set limitations on what we should or shouldn’t say about Who He is and what He has done in our lives which means as long as we keep Him caged up, we are keeping others from coming to know Him as we do. It’s time for the boldness and courage of the LION to come out of us to a hurting and dying world.

I don’t want to tame the LION in me and become a pious little old lady that looks the part and doesn’t display the strength of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that lives in me. Jesus certainly isn’t a household pet that should be caged up and let out occasionally for a walk around the block with us. He IS the LION of the Tribe of Judah and as I go into this new year, I want to put the key in the lock and let Him out more in my life than ever before. Won’t you join me in that commitment? To free the Lion to do the things that only He can do if we will just let Him out? Being bold enough when a friend is in pain, that we remember WHO it is that lives BIG in us and we say “Can I pray for you?” Being courageous enough to invite a lonely friend to church or a Bible Study. To gather our family around us and boldly speak to them about our faith and God's love and amazing grace.

Listen to the roar! Let the LION out! Dear Lord Jesus, I truly desire to set You free from the limits that I’ve put on You as to what I’m willing for You to do in and through my life. I pray that you will stir others to join me and to set You free in their own lives, too! May 2019 be the year when the "Lion" was set free in our lives! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

They're Everywhere!

I went to see "Risen" on Good Friday. I highly recommend it. I enjoy seeing faith-based films and anything related to Jesus up on the big screen. It inspires me to visually see what I know from the Bible and I think it's great for others to have that kind of exposure to the Gospel. Getting that "Good News" message out, however, is key!

Bottom line, I believe there is nothing that can replace God's Word. Yet, I can enjoy a movie and how a director and producer team up to interpret what they know, and depict how they feel will make a good movie. I can distinguish the truth through the filter of God’s Word. Movies should be seen first as entertainment, and whether or not every detail in a movie is Biblically accurate, we can be inspired by a piece of artwork like this, just like we can a song or a painting or statute.

In this film, it was so thrilling to have a visual of what it must have been like after Jesus came back to life -- especially in the mindset of a non-believer (Clavius, a Roman soldier). The producers of the film took their artistic liberties in giving us some things to think about, particularly from the point of view of Clavius.

Here's one of my favorite lines in the whole movie, and it still resonates big in me. Bartholomew (one of the disciples) was a joy and faith-filled, disciple -- especially having seen the risen Christ. He had been found and was being interrogated by Clavius, with the intention of Bartholomew leading him to where the disciples were hiding out. Clavius said, "I'll kill you now if you don't tell me where His disciples are. Tell me now!" Bartholomew broke into the biggest smile ever as he joyfully answered, “THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!"

I loved that....and, yes, WE ARE EVERYWHERE and, like the disciples who went on to change their world, I have recounted Bartholomew's words countless times to others since I saw the movie. That's you and me. Now, we continue to manifest the words of Christ to "Go into all the world and preach the good news!" And if we're EVERYWHERE, then what are we doing to change our world? The more we realize the responsibility and mandate of our Lord, to be His devoted followers -- living out His ministry in words, actions and deeds, the more His message of love will be perpetuated. Isn't that what our world needs so abundantly?

Though the masses have continued to try to stamp out His message, it will continue to live on. It's unstoppable. Shouldn't we be living that mission with all our hearts? We're in quite an elite army. Our Captain is unfailing and relentless and we know HE WINS! When it's so easy to get wrapped up in matters that are so trivial.....instead, shouldn't we be the lights that carry His message on to CHANGE OUR WORLD and literally, BE EVERYWHERE....in our schools, politics, workplaces, government offices, churches, marketplaces, homes....yes, EVERYWHERE!

#Risen #GoodNews

Grateful to Be Changing the World

Day 31 of Photo Inspirations -- Grateful
Grateful is what my heart feels today as I've seen the dream of my precious husband come true -- a dream that we prayed for every day.  The prayer went something like this "that our family be closely knit together in all areas of life".  Before then, our children -- each talented and tremendously successful in their own ways --  were going down different paths in life.  My husband, Ron, would say -- "If those kids of ours would ever merge their gifts together -- they could change this world."

After he went to heaven, the next year Ryan conceived an idea that had the potential of making the difference in millions of people's lives, and Staci and Larry came together with him and Shawntel -- and since then, indeed, they are changing this world -- and so is this Mama -- because I locked arms with them in this amazing story of impacting this world with such good news.  We've been going strong for almost three years because a "God-idea" became a force to be reckoned with.

Last night, I watched my kids standing side-by-side because of an achievement that Staci made in Solavei -- as the first Presidential Director, who brought in and leads a team of tens of thousands of people in Solavei -- from the entire United States mainland to Puerto Rico (that, of itself, is going gangbusters).

As the first Presidential Director, Staci received a beautiful Mercedes.  It was a tremendous time of celebration and a monumental moment that showed her heart, her hard work, her ability to lead a huge team of leaders, as well as being able to celebrate the thousands and thousands who have had tremendous blessings in their lives -- from getting free mobile service to those who earn thousands of dollars a month -- all because we believe we are on a mission to make life better for many.
 
I have this family photo to show that dreams do come true -- that diligence in hard work and belief in "nothing is impossible with God" combined with audacious, faith-filled prayers are answered -- IN A BIG WAY!   Yes, I am so grateful!

Our One-of-A-Kind Shoes Made By THE Designer

"Give a gal the right shoes and she can conquer the world" -- Marilyn Monroe.

That quote, and, especially that adorable little girl prancing around in her Mama's shoes, sure does bring a smile to my face. Little girls just want to be like their Mamas. But, there's something about us BIG girls that want to be like someone else, too! Maybe it's because of who they're married to, or how wealthy they are, or how beautiful they are, or how smart they are, or what a bubbly, outgoing personality they have.

But, RIP, Marilyn Monroe, who didn't realize that God did GIVE us gals the RIGHT shoes, and we, not only CAN, but we ARE conquering the world. The RIGHT shoes to be in, are the ones that God created just for us to wear.

You and I are unique, original versions and one-of-a-kind, specially handcrafted versions of YOU and me. Before we were ever conceived…..God had a plan and purpose that only we can fulfill. We don’t have to try to fit into someone else’s shoes (or try to be like them or look like them). Remember the wicked stepsisters of Cinderella -- trying to fit into Cinderella's shoes.....and they just couldn't? That's because they were trying to BE Cinderella. It just didn't work for them....and it doesn't work for us either.

We just simply must walk in “THE Designer” shoes that God made just for us. So, let's just go right on out today, in our specially designed -- ONE-OF-A-KIND shoes and conquer and change the world!