He Goes Above and Beyond

Yesterday, I spoke about the “exceeding abundantly” greatness of God. He goes above and beyond all we could ask or think – when we move out of the way – and let Him step into lives. I’ll tell you some more of those times in ours.

Our daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby after she had pneumonia many times. But then, God gave us above and beyond our prayers when she was completely healed. Now, I watch her in action every day – using her lungs – where the enemy messed with her – to sing and speak about the Good News of God everywhere she goes. I have a simple taste of what Mary, the Mother of our Lord, must have felt when her Baby Boy started setting the world on fire with His exploits.

Our son was born with club feet and today he’s run over 52 full marathons. But, beyond that, that little boy who had a spark of sales abilities from a young cub scout selling the most Scout-a-Rama tickets, took the “above and beyond” mentality to a whole new level as a man. He came up with ingenious ideas, aligned himself with those who have the ability to make those ideas become a reality. He recognizes “the God-factor” and if you were to ask him how he does it, he admits that the products/services he and his team deliver are simply the product of believing nothing is impossible with God.

And, me, a shy introverted girl, who had such low self-esteem in herself, met a multi-talented boy who already saw the “above and beyond” potential and brought out everything he saw in me and more. I’m here today to tell you – NOTHING and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God.

We were going down financially, but kept holding onto our faith and trust that God would turn it around for us. I’ll never forget the day when my husband boldly proclaimed: “I’m done with the lack mentality. It’s time for a kick-butt attitude. I’m going to speak to the developer and tell him I can help him get those properties sold. He audaciously asks for a 6,000 sqft home to market out of (and live) and BOOM – God did the above and beyond to take Ron’s faith and bold confidence to a BIG WIN for us and the developer. I wash you could see that gorgeous, thriving subdivision today.

I hope I don’t sound braggadocious about anything we did and do. I want the bragging-rights all spot-lighting the goodness and greatness of our God Who delivers on time – in His time and His ways if we let Him. Though we would like Him to more align Himself to our ways, when we let go and let God – He’ll do above and beyond in His time and His ways.

Why not let this be our year of boldly stepping out and taking some risks in order to go to a new level? What if we purposed to partner with God and His ability to go above and beyond with our thoughts and our prayers this year? To see the “above and beyond” made possible by a simple trust in God – the ONE Who with “Nothing is impossible”. Why not start now? Whatever it is you are believing for, take the limits off of our "above and beyond" God. Don't question Him or His timing. Be a risk taker - a true believer - you just might revolutionize and save a family, a business, a marriage, a project, a ministry, and a world!

They Gave Me a Blank Check

My children were heading out of town. I needed to oversee some contractors that were painting their home while they were gone. They left a few blank, signed checks for me to give them when they finished. Aw! Blank, signed checks! Good thing I'm honest and dependable because it could sure have been tempting to use one of those checks to get me to Tahiti and beyond!

If there were ever a “blank check” verse in the Bible, this is it:
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." I have so many of those "exceeding abundantlies" in my life. The one I am most grateful for -- that I even spoke of to my children in my early morning text message to them is the joy of the Lord that is in my heart. Seriously, I could complain about so many things. I just won't. A joy that is exceedingly abundantly has superseded any doubt, fear, loneliness, or any other negativity, is down in my heart.

A tangible "exceedingly abundantly" I recall was when we were in a season of financial crisis. We were still strong believers in the "blank check" principal of "God will do exceedingly abundantly according to the power that works in us." We did believe, and put our absolute trust in our faithful God. My husband, a man of faith, found a 6,000 sq ft spec home in a nearby subdivision, convinced the builder we should move into it and help him market that home and other homes and lots he had for sale. The builder said, "I don't know why I'm doing this -- but, okay -- let's do it!" So we moved into that home. Ron sold three homes and 13 lots within six-short months and not only did he continue to have success there, we purchased that 6,000 sqft home and made it our place of business and ministry for years. God did the exceedingly abundantly for us because God's power was working strong in us. We did not limit our "exceedingly abundant" God.

Maybe there are things that you need, but are afraid to ask and believe God for them. Just know that He is able to do far more than you could even dream of. I’m a pretty big dreamer. God says, “Donna, think of the greatest thing you could ever dream of, the greatest thing you think I could do in your life. Guess what? I can top that.”

If there were tears in Heaven, it would probably be because we would get there and realize all the things that we could have done if we had just believed God a little bit more. I think I'd shed a few tears -- to see everything I could have accomplished if I had just believed God more. But there are no tears in Heaven and God gives us everything we need right now to accomplish what He has planned for us. I challenge you to dream big about your relationships, your marriage, your family, your career, and your ministry to others. Your faith can turn those dreams into reality, because God is able to do far more than we would dare to ask or even dream..

Faith turns God-given dreams into reality. Nothing happens until somebody starts dreaming! The Bible is full of people who had God-given dreams. Abraham dreamed of being the father of a great nation. Moses dreamed of setting God’s people free. Joseph dreamed of saving a nation and his own family. If we'd look around us, we'd find many dreamers who refused to quit. They stirred up God's power in them and saw the exceedingly abundantly in their lives. Why not you?

Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?

Day 57 of Photo Inspirations -- Have You Made a Pledge for Purity?
Yesterday, out of the blue, I started looking at old Staci Michaels Ministries  "Above & Beyond" newsletters that we sent out monthly, 20 years ago in 1995.  I was reminded about the Pledge for Purity Program that she created and taught back then -- and led many young people to living a life of purity -- not just sexually, but in a lifestyle commitment of character, integrity, prayer life, devotion and pure relationships before God.  Recalling how passionate she was, I was reminded of how our culture has continued to lower its standards over the years, even to the point that living a life of purity "is just weird -- just not normal".  To say that "it doesn't matter", is saying "my marriage, my friendships and my relationship with God doesn't matter either".  Staci was teaching the Pledge for Purity Program before she and Larry met and they proved it was possible to live a life of purity.  In fact, they never kissed until their wedding day, and their beautiful marriage, today, continues to be a role model for others. They are leading by example.  They are STILL out their Pledge for Purity And, it really is proof of the scripture that she based the title of her newsletter from "And God will do exceeding abundantly ABOVE AND BEYOND, all you can ask or think, according to the power that works within you". Ephesians 3:20

As an absolute nudge from God to post this today, AFTER I had her newsletters laid out on my desk, a neighbor called.  She said, "I didn't realize you were Staci Michaels' Mom, until I saw your post about her being Mrs. North Carolina."  She went on to tell me about coming to Staci's Bible Study and bringing her niece with her. Her niece went through, and graduated from, the Pledge for Purity Program. And her niece kept that pledge in her heart until she later married. That conversation led me to go check out her niece's FB page.  When I did, I saw who her "besties" are, still today -- other graduates from the Pledge for Purity Program.

In a world of lowering standards to accommodate the "new way of thinking", it is such a joy to see how blessed we are when we realize how much God wants to use us and flow through us, and the most effective way to do that is to remember to strive to live a life of purity -- in every area of our lives.  "The Purer the Vessel the Greater the Flow". That's a line that Staci coined and I still pray that I am that vessel.  He wants to pour Himself through us and as we strive to live a life of purity in word, thought and deed.....the more He'll be able to do just that!  And, a final word....if your vessel is a little clogged with "stuff" -- it's okay. We can start fresh and new today.  God promises He'll make ALL THINGS NEW.  So why not YOU?  Why not TODAY?
#PledgeForPurity #AboveAndBeyond