The Joy of a Hope and Faith-Filled Child

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Last Sunday the theme was HOPE, and today, the second lit candle on the Advent Wreath represents FAITH! And for a little personal emphasis, those hope and faith themes are so appropriate today because it's my hope-filled and faith-filled daughter's birthday!

Oh how thrilled I was 50 years ago today to welcome my baby girl, Staci Michelle, into this world. To this day, this baby girl who grew up physically and spiritually into a powerful, faith-filled woman of God, is still a little girl in so many ways. I’m quite sure the enemy runs in terror, while her Heavenly Father does a high-five to His heavenly team, when she wakes up each morning. She has spring in her step, joy in her soul, faith in believing nothing is impossible with God (NOTHING), dreaming what would seem impossible dreams, and dancing to the tune of a different Drummer.

And, we called her Staci Michelle (resurrection life; like God). We were definitely connected to heaven when that name was given to us. She has proven both names in the way she is consistently bringing Christ’s resurrection life to others and, on so many levels, is like God in her love for people and love for seeing them come to know His Son and experience His abundant life.

This blog came to me when several of us took evangelizing to a whole new level by taking to the streets of Frisco on Main. This will be our third week, carrying signs that say “God loves you”, “Need prayer?”, “Honk if you love Jesus!”, “Be the Light”, etc. Staci was the one hopping and dancing around with her sign which was a magnet for those who needed and wanted prayer. She posted herself at the entrance of a store or gas station that gave the drivers the ability to pull over and ask. One lady, in tears, said “If only my mom would have seen your signs, she might be alive today.” She went on to tell Staci – her mother, father and sibling all committed suicide. Another asked for prayer for her family and, after two miscarriages, another asked for prayer to have a baby. People need hope and my girl (she's still my baby) is up to the task of giving it to them.

I could tell you so many other things about my girl, but I’ll segue to my scripture readings in Isaiah recently that spoke of a little child leading them. And then in Luke 10, Jesus spoke of being childlike. I think about this time of the year and what being childlike looks like. They’re excited for the Christmas programs they may be performing at school. They may be excited about seeing Santa Claus at the mall but most of all, they’re excited about Christmas Eve and Christmas morning when all kinds of gifts await them. They can hardly wait.

This beautiful season of Advent is the opportunity for us to be childlike too. For us to anticipate the joy of our Savior who was born for us and for our salvation. We can get excited as we ponder and prepare for the coming of our Lord -- both in the remembrance of His coming to earth as a baby and for His return to this earth someday soon. Let’s be full of the abundant life Christ came to give us and let’s be full of resurrection life that draws others to Christ and His goodness and mercy.

“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit Who lives in you.” (Romans 8:11)

You’re welcome, world! I was blessed to be the bearer of this fruit of my womb. And, now we all can enjoy the benefits of knowing a gal who walks, talks and lives the resurrection life that Christ came to give all of us! Happy Birthday, my precious, full-of-resurrection-life, childlike CHILD! I love you so so much!
If you'd like to follow her on FB, go to: https://www.facebook.com/staciwallace

Audacious, Unwavering Trust! I Want to Live Like That!

We've all been part of coaxing our little one to take that first step "Trust me! I won't let you fall!" Or that little new swimmer-in-training "Let go of the wall! I've got you! Trust me!" Or that high flyer when Daddy says, “Jump! Trust me!” Those walk-of-faith, swim-of-faith and leap-of-faith times mean the child has to put aside all inhibitions and fears. But, no problem. She has child-like faith. That faith that shows all-out, undaunted trust that her mommy or daddy is going to catch her. And she takes that first step or dog paddles in that pool or jumps to her beloved daddy. No fear – only trust! And sure enough, she lands, safely in her father’s arms.

Remember that kind of trust? We had that trust because of the secure relationship we had with our parents. We completely trusted their words and promises. Did we ever think our father would miss us, and let us fall? Not hardly. We believed, and we had faith because we trusted in who he was to us.

I know there are those who didn't experience the love of a Godly father like this, but I know how we all can know this love. That’s the kind of faith we can, and should, have in our Heavenly Father. Having childlike faith isn’t perfect faith. There's room for doubt, but the doubt doesn’t win – hope, trust and faith prevails and wins! What pleases God the most is our heart of sincerity that says, “God, I know You have my best interests at heart. Please bolster my faith in You." He answers that kind of prayer. Bottom line, no matter how impossible our situations may seem, if we have that unwavering faith of a child, we believe and know He will catch us and put us on a straight path!

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High, will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him." Psalm 91:1,2

And, there is something so precious about the thought of getting to be a child again, and knowing we have a Father who will take care of us. He can bear the burdens of life while we can just enjoy ourselves, like we did when we were children, without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details. God will take care of all that. We don’t need to perform, we don’t need to be constantly striving for this or that; the burden is on God’s shoulders -- not ours. Audacious, unwavering child-like faith. I wanna' live like THAT!

Matthew 18:3 "And Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."