Do You See a Mighty Warrior in Your Mirror?

I’m thinking about all of the warriors who have risen to the top during these “beyond normal” days of COVID-19. This has been a survival-of-the-fittest for those who arose to the challenges despite the inconveniences, the lifestyle changes, the stay-at-home orders, the abandonment of public get-togethers, etc.

But even before this unparalleled season, we've all had defining moments that either made us or broke us. But, whatever they were -- God did what He does best – He used them for good. I speak from plenty of experience. As I look back on some of the toughest of times, I realize they made me stronger, wiser, gutsier, and braver.

Here’s the thing -- our destiny and purpose are wrapped up in each and every one of these times. It's that "stuff" that makes a warrior – the warrior moments that seemed like the worst of worst times that we call adversity, but were actually the turbo boost to propel us to where we were meant to be.

Maybe you’re one of the rare-breed who has weathered this season like an undaunted champion. You’ve been on duty 24/7 with food prep, school-at-home regimes, games and activities that keep your “team” occupied and having fun. Maybe, you’re one of the front-liners who have fearlessly put yourself at risk and in harm’s way to help others. You have worn face masks so much that your face has lines embedded in them. Shout outs to all of you warriors! You deserve recognition, awards and jewels in your heavenly crown!

On the other hand, some are hanging on by a mere thread – and the thought of ONE MORE DAY of this is nearly overwhelming. I assure you of this -- the times of adversity either make us stronger and cause us to have the "warrior” mentality or we succumb to the pressure and throw in the towel with the "pull-the-blanket-over-the-head” mentality. One makes us stronger and leads to success, while the other causes us to quit.

I recall God’s words to Gideon: “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12) even though he didn't feel like a mighty warrior. And, God has said that to us, too! The enemy came in to devastate our world. My lightning fast mind knows that this invasion wasn’t from God – nothing evil comes from Him. But, the enemy of our souls DOES come in “like a roaring lion – seeking whom he may devour”. (1 Peter 5:8)

I believe God sees mighty warriors in each of us too. Imagine facilitating home school, you’re making yet ANOTHER meal, paying bills, sorting laundry and God appears to you saying, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” God makes victors out of the ordinary and overlooked. God seems to delight in working powerfully through unexpected “warriors”.

So when you look in the bathroom mirror today, who will you see? Even if you’re hiding in there from the kids, you can choose to see a mighty warrior for God. In fact, in Him, we ARE mighty warriors! Isn't that the warrior mentality we all should have to take on all life with passion and purpose and dig in deep to declare war on ANY and EVERYTHING that tries to stop God's assignments? Indeed, we are mighty warriors!

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:4

Fire Hazard Warning – There'll Be 70 Candles on my Cake!

I'm saluting my age 70+ friends today and counting my blessings because in two days I'll join you as I embark on my own 70+ ride! My Frisco family and I are making our way down to Austin for my "7-0 party" weekend. I’m so thankful that I made another year, particularly when I consider the alternative! I'm not downplaying having another birthday and thinking "no big deal". How silly would that be, especially when we throw a gigantic, blow-out of a birthday for a one-year-old that won’t even remember? Those here for DECADES are the ones that should be celebrated. Every year we're still here, we should own it and take in all the congratulatory celebrations we can!! We earned it BIG TIME!

I’m justifying my family "putting on the dog" this weekend for me and it’s bound to be quite the celebration based on “the older we get the more we should be celebrated.” I’ve made it to 70 years – 7 decades. OMG! I told my son to be sure there's a fire extinguisher around if they're putting 70 candles on my cake! How can it be? Where did the years go? We’ve ALL been sort of shocked that I’m turning 70. Oh, I know “70 is just a number", BUT, it’s a BIG number! Suddenly I’m getting more calls and more attention. I'm glad I've made it a habit to send "love" text messages to my children every morning. If they don't get that message from here on out....well, let's say I'll be sending kisses from heaven instead!!

I’m so thankful for this attention. They’ve planned this weekend for months. I have no idea what’s going to happen, except that I requested Franklin’s BBQ at some point”. The rest is top secret. Well, except for the text I received from my son: “Make sure you bring your swimsuit….hot at 70!”

I’m totally on a bandwagon of celebrating our lives – the only one that God gave us. Children anticipate their birthdays so much. In fact, they will say “I’m 8 and a half” with excitement that in a few months they’ll turn 9. They embrace turning 10 because it’s double digits. And, 13, because they'll be a teenager and 16 because they can get their driver's license. As children, we believed in the magic of birthdays. We counted down and planned for our party's theme: Princess, Super Hero, etc. We treasured the people who made our birthdays special, like the grandmother (me) who created a treasure hunt trail of rhyming notes that led to the grand finale's supremo birthday gift. We were stoked that our friends came bearing gifts and shared our yummy cake after we blew out the candles in one breath!

Let’s be clear – it’s not as much about the presents, as it is of the PRESENCE of those who love us and make us feel special. Here’s the real crux of the matter: We always were and always will be a treasure of God's, and on our birthday, we get to rock that truth. I’m rocking even as I type this post today. If my family wasn’t throwing me a party for this BIG 7-0, I’d be throwing myself one to celebrate I've made it this far and this long!

Birthdays are a big deal because birthdays represent our God-given mission and destiny and every year that we’re here, we get to celebrate our journey. And with each year, we have the opportunity to celebrate -- not for just THE day, but EACH day that God gives us. Celebrating it with a merry heart, a glad heart, a thankful heart, a forgiving heart, a heart open to the abundance of God's love and bringing forth fruit, being vigorous and flourishing. So, today, you’re invited to party right along on with me. Whether you are 27 or 57 or 97.....you are to be celebrated. You're still bearing fruit. We're still here so we're not done! We're not giving up until we're taken up!

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be vigorous and flourishing." Psalm 92:14

Coincidences or Divine Appointments?

You've got to love it when a young person is willing to come to a slightly "mature" person ;-) for counsel. You know, they know, the wisdom that's inside them. Very, smart and wise young person. When I received an email from a sweet friend from my church, Megan, asking if I'd look over a project she's doing for her Senior year at Bishop Kelley, I was honored and pleased. She selected the importance of inner beauty for her project. Yes, extremely, wise young lady. But, even better, what seemed to be a simple appointment to review a project, turned into a God-designed appointment. My sweet girl Shawntel Wuerch and the boys were here with me in Tulsa which was perfect timing for both of us to review Megan's project. Sweet opportunity to talk about the inner beauty that God desires from us -- that beauty that comes from within and shines so brightly in our lives. Shawntel is exemplary in both inside and outside beauty. Divine set-up.

Before Megan came to my home, her Mom sent over this photo of Shawntel and Megan ten years ago. Shawntel was the guest speaker for our Women of the Church OfThe Madalene and that night she told her Miss America story -- about her road from a little town, Muldrow, OK to Miss America, how she entered simply to earn scholarship monies to attend college. But God had bigger things in mind for her, and He does for each of us as well. Just like the road to Miss America, with its twists and turns and ups and downs, being the journey God planned for Shawntel, a simple appointment to review a project just may be the "set up" for Megan that started ten years ago when she was excited to have her photo taken with Shawntel. Yesterday, Megan was wearing a Bishop Kelley soccer shirt. Shawntel asked her if she played soccer. Indeed she does, and of all things, her coach is my nephew, Troy Tokarchik. Who knew another little "set-up" to show we're in the same family!

What if each day we started taking note of the coincidences....er.... the divine set-ups, providential circumstances and appointments that come our way that point us in the direction of our God-given destiny? Megan had a project to do. She was impressed to do it on God's definition of beauty. What if this project is the "seed" that Megan is planting for her future? What if what we are doing today are the seeds we're planting for the difference makers and world changers God destined us to be?

That's Gotta Hurt!

Day 300 of Photo Inspirations -- That's Gotta Hurt!!!
My daughter,Staci, and I posed for this photo on Saturday -- Staci's caption for the photo "Hmm....that's gotta hurt!"  LOL!  Well, that's just a scarecrow so it's not hurting, but what about us?  That could be said of many of us today, whether we're actually hurting physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually or any other way.  We'll share our "struggling" story and hear in reply ..."That's gotta hurt".  And, we'd think..."Indeed, it does."

But what if those "gotta hurt" times are just the "set up" for the "punch line" that is on its way in our lives? Yesterday, we heard Michael Jr. (a Christian comedian who, is hailed as one of today’s most gifted comedians).  Michael Jr. got his start when George Wallace took him to the legendary Comedy & Magic Club  The club is the home of Jay Leno and “The Tonight Show” staff. The club’s owner slipped the unknown comic, Michael Jr. onstage to perform. A week later, he was performing at the “Just for Laughs” comedy festival in Montreal where he became the first comedian to ever appear live via satellite on “The Tonight Show.”   That performance catapulted Michael’s career.  He explained that for years he'd been practicing for this moment.  Then one day.....he was ready for the BIG TIME.

He explained that as a kid, he and his friend made a pact to help each other stop cursing.  They would punch each other in the chest as hard as they could if they heard each other cursing.  "THAT'S GOTTA' HURT!"  That made him stop cursing because it hurt too much.  And way back then....he was already practicing his "set up" for his "clean" comedy act that would open doors in his future.

He went on to talk about "the things from our past"  -- some of those hurtful things -- the bad relationship, dysfunctional family, the divorce, the illness, the loss of a loved one -- are those very things that God uses to catapult us.   So we practice and practice and then it's GAME TIME!  Our gift will make room for us.  A comedian sets up his story or joke, and then a shift happens that goes the opposite direction and that's when the punch line happens.  That punch line MAKES the joke.  It makes everything make sense.  The "That's Gotta' Hurt" times, as well as "Atta Boy!" times --  God uses it all for good......"the punch line".

God is working in our lives.  There's some incredible set-ups coming.   We must keep practicing right where we are.  Practice makes perfect -- when that door opens, we'll be able to walk right into the destiny and purpose God planned for us all along.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

God Takes Pleasure When We Take Pleasure

Yesterday was planned around Alexia -- some girl time, her getting to choose where we would eat for breakfast and dinner -- being pampered at the nail salon, her picking some great decor' for her new bedroom, getting her "Fall Harvest" costume -- it was a "by design" day that continues to celebrate her Rite of Passage (she'll turn 13 in Sept).

I was thrilled to be a part of this day and getting to watch as she received the next "key" that might be the "one" that would open her Rite-of-Passage Treasure Chest. Yesterday's leadership "key" was COURAGE. It was another key she received during these many weeks of intense training and preparation by her dad and mom who are pouring into her.

Last night, as an example of courage and willingness to fight and die for a cause bigger than herself, we watched the movie, "Joan of Arc" -- so compelling to see a young woman of courage, power and ability to lead armies and command men. She won many military victories over England and saved France from English rule. She had the ability to endure adversity patiently. She was steadfast and loyal to a king who abandoned her to her enemies. But most of all, she loved God, and her loyalty and patient acceptance to His Will for her life, makes her a genuine heroine and role model for us all -- not to mention my precious granddaughter who is being equipped with the "keys" that are creating a firm foundation in her life as she continues to grow into womanhood.

As I took this day in -- with all its enjoyments and pleasures -- and ending with this strong emphasis on courage, I realized that is what Father God wants for all His kids. He wants us to enjoy all that is around us -- He takes pleasure in our joy. But most importantly He wants us to grow in all the ways of becoming, being, and doing -- people of courage, purpose and destiny -- to change our world. I pray this for Alexia, I continue to strive for this with all my heart.

If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat!

You know the deal -- when we stretch our faith, and go for it: "Yes, we're buying a house" or "Yes, we're going to start our family -- we're going to have a baby" or "Yes, I'm changing jobs -- the pay is less, but it's what I love to do" or "Yes, I will run a marathon" or "Yes, I will start a Bible Study in my home" or "Yes, I'm quitting smoking" or "Yes, we're moving!" It's all about TRUSTING God to hold us up, when we stretch our faith to "walk on water"!

It's that first step that holds so many of us back. But, it's time for us to get out of our comfort zone. Sometimes God has a way of shaking things up around us to make us so uncomfortable that we will strive to move from where we are, to the next level of our destiny. And, those adversities we are facing? God could be allowing them to push us out of the boat and into the deep, so He can bless us with a new level of faith and maturity and blessings! It's time to live with "no regrets" and for us to learn to let go of our fears and insecurities, and to reach out for life at its fullest. Even if we fall, as Peter did, there will always be SOMEONE to reach out and help us get our balance again! And, by the way, our Lifeguard DOES walk on water -- so need to worry or fret!