This Good Guy Wears a White Hat

This is my son, Larry. Technically, he’s my son-in-law, but we’ve called him our son from the get-go. It is a term of endearment. He called us mom and dad. We were proud to call him our son.

Last month, I had the joy of travelling with him and Staci in their truck and 5th-wheel RV to Red River, NM. On the way to Red River, we made a pit stop in Amarillo, TX to eat at the Big Texan Steak House, – known for their 72 ounce steak. If you eat it all in one-hour, your $72 meal is free. We didn’t indulge ourselves in that challenge, but we sure enjoyed eating their delicious food. What many don’t know is while Larry attended Texas A&M, he was a real cowboy working cattle, riding horses with other ranching responsibilities. So, what’s a guy to do when we’re passing through cowboy country and Cavender’s Western Store, but to get himself a white Stetson cowboy hat that I must say “Looks mighty good on him, and for that matter, I think he’s a dead ringer for the Marlboro man!"

Even before the white hat, Larry was one of those good guys. He is kind, compassionate and quick to meet the needs of others, including me. He is a fully devoted follower of Christ and is an incredible role model for others.

I remember the good ole' days when good manners, courtesy, concern for each other, patriotism, and respect were the norm. In reality, those qualities are still right here. They may not wear white hats, but there are those white-hat-wearing-kind-of-people.

Deep inside of most everyone is a "white-hat-wearing", loving and kind somebody. But something caused them to be just the opposite -- maybe their upbringing, their lack of a value system, their choice of friends? What was it that changed them from "loving God, standing up with their hand over their heart while singing our National Anthem, respectfully loving others and living with kindness and honor"? It’s hard to believe how polar opposite we can be. I get that people are afraid, angered, upset, and confused about this world we live in, but we can do our part to at least change "our little world" if we want to.

We can lean in closer to God Who can change us and make us new. He is delighted to give out "white hats" to His kids. We can be committed Christ followers Who replace our meanness for kindness and our ugly talk to love talk. My Mama said it best, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"
My Mama and Mother Teresa had a lot in common when it comes to loving and caring.

Here's the way Mother Teresa put it:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

You, know, I think Mother Teresa must have owned a white cowgirl hat because she sure did talk the talk and walk the walk that most of those folks in white hats seem to do. I'm thinking I need to go on a shopping spree for a white hat!

Love's Power to Change Everything and Everyone

I’m carrying on one more day of recognizing the power of love. The power to overpower hate with love. Martin Luther King Jr. did that and he gave his life for it. I started thinking about how illogical Jesus’ words seem to be in Matthew 5:44. “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!" Does that make any sense at all – love our enemies? It does -- in the light of the ONE Who said those words and gave HIS life to prove they make a profound difference in this world.

How is it possible to love our enemies? How can we do good to those who hate us, curse us, use us and persecute us? And, even a step further, “bless them and pray for them”? It seems impossible, but Dr. King explained it well in this quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” There is another reason Jesus says, 'Love your enemies'. It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. That power eventually transforms the lives of people. We just keep loving them, and they won't be able to stand it. The power of our love will break down under the load. Love is redemptive, and that's why Jesus said, "Love." Love builds up and creates. Hate tears down and destroys. So build up. Create. LOVE!

I try to live by the words, What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD), in determining what action to take in situations. He set the example for us in every area of our lives. He had enemies – plenty of them. They rejected Him, tortured Him and even killed Him. He loved them anyway. And if we believe in Him, it’s time to be that kind of lover, too, and say to our enemies, “I love you. I would rather die than hate you.” When we live that way, we’ll find the strength to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who spitefully use us. Getting even with our enemies isn't even in the equation. Blessing them is.

We are living in a time where there is so much need for love, more so than ever. It starts with each of us reaching deep inside and connecting to THE ONE Who lives big within us and with His love, we can offer our loving selves to others, not because we seek anything, but because our cup is full of love and we have nothing more to do than simply share it with others.

I invite you today to be the change you want to see in the world, to be love and loving towards others. If we can let go of our anger long enough to pray like this, we’ll discover an amazing benefit – we’ll be putting ourselves in a position TO BE blessed and loved!

Harvest Time Up Ahead -- Keep Doing Good!

This blog inspiration is brought to us today by our good friend and mentor, St. Paul. His words are filled with hope for those of us who have been on the "do-good" tractor -- planting and planting, and we've been wondering if it has been worth it. Oh, but then comes Paul's firey voice cheering us on: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

It has been a tough row to hoe (speaking in planting and reaping terms) the last few years. Maybe you've gritted your teeth to stay kind and to bear it all. Or, you shut your eyes and put ear plugs in to deafen the harshness of the loud voices of the enemy. You may read these words and relate them to stuff going on in your family, or you may relate them to what's outside. Stones have been cast and angry voices raised. Hit and run proclamations. But we are still standing, somewhat stunned, but we're still here. We must not be done. It’s in times like these that retreat sounds so safe. Let’s go home, lock the doors, bar the windows and disconnect the doorbell. Gather up our stockpiled faith and ration out just enough to survive. It seems tempting to safeguard our hearts by taking them right out and sticking them in a steel encased safe. Then forget the combination.

But, then, our tried, tested and proven faith warrior friend, St. Paul -- who suffered great physical pain, was imprisoned, shipwrecked, mocked and beaten for his faith -- speaks again as a challenge and invitation: “Let us not grow weary of doing good." These words bring tears to my eyes, a lump to my throat. It's in this deeper, invisible place that sees the best in people, that reaches out in love, that keeps believing folks can change. This sort of hope has taken a beating lately. And as I type this blog, I talk to God about it and He replies "I understand."

I realize, He does. More than I can know, more than any of us comprehend. He knows what it is to love and love. To extend yourself so far that you are....oh, stretched out on a cross. Then we hear the words of St. Paul again: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) Fixing our eyes on Jesus changes everything. Consider the perfect Man who endured such opposition from sinful men. Perhaps we are so disillusioned these days because we have been looking at each other. And we, mere humans, always fall short. We disappoint. We cave. But not Jesus.

So, we suit up and we keep doing good -- like Jesus. He is the reason we can stay in the race. Take the next step. Keep going. Keep believing. Most of all, keep loving. Not locked away, but the safest place for our hearts is entrusting them to the One who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. The One who does not grow weary. The One who, in the middle of all the noise and chaos and even danger, will never allow our hearts to be lost. So what do we do? We keep doing good -- harvest time is up ahead. I'm getting the biggest John Deere tractor I can find -- I'll need it because I'm not quitting. I'm going to love even more and expecting to reap a mammoth harvest! Care to borrow my tractor?

What Medicine Do You Take?

If you're like me, your medicine cabinet has just about everything you need in it for the common cold, headache, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, sunburn, tummy ache, etc.  I've got aspirins, ointments, sprays, oils, ice packs, heating pads to help conquer the ailments at any given time.

Yesterday morning, while getting ready for my day, I listened to a Joyce Meyer broadcast that I had previously recorded.  Her message sure hit home and impacted me enough that I'm sharing with you the part that I loved and took to heart the most.

She had two HUGE medicine bottles on the stage -- two medicines for our souls.  One said, "Trust" and the other said "Do Good".   Joyce said,  "This is a prescription for trust. The doctor is Jesus and the patient is whosoever. The instructions are take as many, for as long as you need it, refills are endless. There are some side effects, so you'll need to be careful. The side effects are: peace, joy, stability and confidence.  Trusting God is the best sleep aid in the world."   And the other presciption was "Do Good" -- side effects:  extreme happiness.  Trust God and do good.  That sounds like two medicines that would take care of spirit, soul AND body.  Those two medicines that Joyce mentioned:  "Trust God and Do Good"  will solve any problem we have.  Psalm 37:3 says "Trust in the LORD, and do good".

I loved this analogy.  How easy it is for us to go to the medicine cabinet for the physical issues we might be dealing with, but what do we do when we are in fear, dealing with anxiety, disappointment, discouragement, depression, anger, self-doubt, and so many other emotions?  The answer is Joyce's answer "Immediately go get the prescription and medicine of God's Word."  The Word of God fixes everything that ails us.  There is an answer for everything in God's Word.   When in fear, take a dose of courage; when anxious, take a dose of peace; disappointment -- a dose of a thankful heart; discouragement -- a dose of encouragement, etc.   We wouldn't put up with a headache very long before we'd take an aspirin for relief.  And we shouldn't put up with all the sufferings of our soul.  How do you spell relief?  TRUST GOD and DO GOOD!