You are Welcome at my House!

I’m going to be a bit feisty in today’s blog. I can, because this Facebook/Blog space is my house, so to speak. I welcome you to stop by and check out what’s going on and to see what God’s download is for us. I have some "house" rules that include kindness, encouraging each other and everyone is especially welcome if you need a friend, a confidant, or a shoulder to cry on and to have someone who will pray with and for you. I’m expressing my heart and the absolute non-negotiables in my life. I’m sharing the values that we built our faith and family upon for generations.

This blog was inspired by my 16-year-old grandson, Brennan, who I’ve hung out with over the last several days and when he came to Frisco a few weeks ago. Something, rather, Someone, of monumental importance has happened to him. This guy has had a major encounter with God – not that he hadn’t before, but this time, he is all in and is undaunted in making his love for God known. He is daily on Tik-Tok and Instagram speaking to young people about making the most important decision in their lives, which is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is unashamed --- Mr. Cooler than Cool guy has had a radical transformation. And the best part, is that others have noticed this 180 – as he lives by example now. He wants to be a difference-maker. I was so blessed on Sunday when I saw him up at the front of the church on Sunday with other young people -- singing and raising their hands in praise and worship to God.

This year, he has taken this new zeal for Christ seriously and is taking it to school with him in an audacious way. His friends have noticed. Not everyone is excited about it as he was the cut-up, attention-getting, not-taking-God-real-serious guy. I saw him in his room playing a video game, while listening to a minister speaking on his computer. We binged on the three “God’s Not Dead” movies and ended with “The Case for Christ” movie. Brennan and these movies fired me up too -- with the certainty of the reality of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. Among the many reasons for knowing it is true, over 500 eyewitnesses saw Him alive. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

Brennan inspired me so much that I want to make my values and beliefs known too. My values are found in the Bible, God's Holy Word. I agree with the psalmist’s words “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105) And in Joshua 1:8-9: “This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate on it day and night, that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and then I will have good success." Scriptures undergird my values which are the absolute non-negotiables in my life. These are some of my statements of faith and my "house" rules:

** Love, peace, joy and God’s grace are fluently spoken here
** I believe in God our Father. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son. I believe in the Holy Spirit – our God, all three in one. I believe in the resurrection. I believe that in the name of Jesus, we can be healed and set free from any bondage. I believe in a real enemy of our souls, but more importantly, I believe we can live in complete freedom because “Greater is He who lives in us, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
**I believe that if we applied Jesus' "house rules" to our life -- we would make our world a better place. His "house rules" (aka commandments) are to “Love God with all our heart, mind and soul” and to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Keeping those "rules", reveals the depth of love we have for God and each other.
** I am Pro-Life. I believe ALL LIVES MATTER from the moment of conception to the grave.
** I believe in our “one nation under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance; in supporting our military; in supporting and praying for Israel; in the ability to worship God and practice our faith without being hindered by government; in patriotism where I stand for my National Anthem and my American flag.

When God made us, He planted within us certain things that we value deeply. They’re hardwired in our heart. Through our life experiences – from the environment we are raised in, the schools we go to, the friends we associate with, and the religious foundation we receive, God makes them clear to us. Those things are our core values. Now, you know mine.

When All is Said and Done – It's Still a Miracle!

On Sunday, my son called to check in on me. “What are you doing today, Mom?” “I’m going to church with Larry and Staci and then we’re going for my birthday lunch at Hutchins BBQ (my pick)! They’ll be out of town this week on my birthday.”

Then his audacious reply: “Mom, how is it going to feel to be 79?” “Ha! Ha! You know it’s 72 and here’s what I know. My President is two years older than me at 74. If he can run a country – I think I can run my little corner of the world. I’m amazed that President Trump could be in his retirement years and live in a peaceful place of ‘having arrived’ and be able to sit back and enjoy the fruit of his labors – but, NO! He preferred to give his all for our country to get on track again. He chose to not receive his salary – to just give it away. He chose to make tough decisions even though he has to put up with so much hate and lies about him. He chose to be a patriot – so in love with our Country, that he’s willing to lay down his life for us!” Tangent ended with my son barely getting a word in edgewise. Pardon me if I let you in on a personal vent. It’s the day after my birthday and I’m still in the celebration mode! And, as my young-whipper-snapper-self, I’m not ready to quit either. Not saying I want the responsibilities of a store clerk – never mind being president. But he sure inspires me to keep swinging.

Thank you for all the birthday love yesterday from my beloved social media friends and family. My, oh my! If you want to feel the love, be sure to be a friend on FB! My children were all out-of-town for my big day, but they showered me with love from afar and so did my FB friends! Isn't it a miracle that in a matter of seconds, we are transmitting birthday messages to each other -- unlike the old days of snail mail?

I’m grateful for my sweet cousin who took me for a yummy “crab legs” lunch and then to the “Painted Tree”, a new marketplace to Frisco, full of mini-shops of local shop owners, boutiques, decorators, artisans and craftsmen all under one roof. So much fun. Remember my tale yesterday about the “Miracles” book I received, with musings about my life being one of miracles? What captured my attention in Painted Tree was this metal sign that says “there will be miracles”! Of course it was my own birthday gift to me – as a reminder that there are miracles coming our way every day – we just need to expect them and recognize them when they come!

Here’s how I’ll recognize miracles! I will breathe in God’s goodness – that’s a miracle. I can breathe. I will see the sun rise and the sun set. That’s a miracle – I can see God’s creation. Yes, there will be miracles and most of all, the greatest miracle of all is when someone has lost their way, and by God’s amazing grace, their soul is set free. Miraculous the change in one who is redeemed through Calvary. There will be miracles when we see a lily push its way through the stubborn sod. But, most of all there will be miracles because we believe in God. There can be miracles when you believe. And, just in case you don't believe in miracles, perhaps you've forgotten -- you are one!

See Ya' Later

Unlike attending a funeral before these times, within the last two months, I traveled to two funerals via cyberspace -- Facebook Live. While it’s not the same as being there in person to support and encourage those whose loved one passed on, it is a blessing to be in this technology age that affords us the opportunity to watch from the comfort of our homes.

Such was the case on Tuesday, when I, from my home in Frisco, TX and my dear 97-year-old mother-in-law in Tulsa, OK, could go all the way to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada via Facebook Live for the funeral/memorial service of mom’s 92-year-old sister. We watched it all as my cousins and mom's nieces and nephews sang and gave beautiful remarks about their mom and grandmother. The theme throughout was Alma's love for her Lord, her knowledge of God's Word, always quoting scriptures, singing about Him with her sisters, leading her children to Him, her hospality, the best baker of sweets -- oh, those tarts -- and loving her family with all her heart. What a legacy!

Auntie Alma’s health drastically declined over the last few months. Mom, the older sister at 97, would daily call her to check in and to encourage her until she was hospitalized. Mom told me she’d say to Alma: “I’m calling to make you laugh again!” And, every time, Alma’s spirit was lifted. One such time, Mom said: “Alma, do you remember when playing Hide and Go Seek, we were all found but we couldn’t find you? We looked and looked but you were nowhere to be found. We were so worried we ran in and told Dad. He came out with his lantern, went straight to his Model T in the garage and found you on the floor board, sound asleep.” The last time mom was able to talk to Alma she told mom, “I’m just too tired to talk today.” Then, Mom starting praying that the Lord would take her home. He did.

My cousin let me know about Auntie Alma's passing on and I let Karen, my sis-in-law know. She found the best time to tell mom. When she told her, mom raised her hands to heaven and shouted: “Hallelujah!” I called then to check on her and she was in a rejoicing-state-of-mind! “I didn't shed a tear and have no sorrow. She’s where I want to be. I remember when we talked about our ten siblings already in heaven and only two seats remained at the table for Alma and me. We wondered which one of us would take the next seat. Now, there’s just one seat left and I’ll soon take it and close the door behind me.”

I love mom’s spirit. She is the last of the 12 siblings on this side of heaven. She is still so on purpose with her life. Only God knows how much longer she’ll be here, but I love her attitude. No grief. No mourning. She just keeps saying “See ya’ later” to those that go before her.

From my own firsthand experience, I know about "passing on" of my husband, parents, and all my siblings. Notice I say “Pass on – not pass away”. “Away” sounds like over and done with, but “on” is like going ON home, going ON a vacation, carrying ON. So, like Mom said “See ya’ later” to Alma – that’s the eternal perspective we can have too! Parting is just temporary!

Alma’s bags were packed. (Actually, I think Mom, mentally, has her bags packed, too). One of these days, Mom’s prayers will be answered, and she’ll walk through the door to eternity. Mom was Auntie Alma's midwife. She helped push her through that door. And here’s the best news for us. We'll walk through that door to our home sweet home one day, too. Our loved ones, there before us, will be on the sidelines cheering for us as we cross our Finish Line. In the meantime, let's give our best to God in each day while we live with eternity in our hearts. I intend to finish strong right along with you! I'll see ya' later!

Letting the Whole World Know

We are seizing so many opportunities to share good news via technology. We sure need that good news! Facebook and FB Live, YouTube videos, teleconferencing, Instagram and other forms of communicating hope-filled messaging. Before the internet and social media, many of us Jesus followers were quite reclusive. Our faith stayed at home. Jesus “talk” was easy there. We’d pray around the dinner table or at bedtime for typical family needs. It was faith between us four and no more.

But, HELLO, 2020! Who would have thought, way back when, that we would, one day, be visually interacting with people around the world without leaving the comfort of our homes? We are seizing these opportunities to live our faith outloud online before countless numbers of people. Not to mention, when all doors closed for worship in our churches, that we could worship with our churches online. We are sharing great faith videos and images that encourage and build up each other. We've realized that we ARE the church to our world.

We have become evangelists and have been unleashed to spread the good news from behind a computer or a cell phone. I see you. You know who you are. You are the ones who share scriptures, prayers, quotes and videos bearing faith-filled and hope-filled messages.

When Jesus said in John 14:12, “And greater works than these (the works that He performed) will you do….”, He was foretelling about what we could accomplish. It is time for us to raise our voices even louder. As children of God, we are family! It’s time to keep putting faith-building, fear-destroying words out there. We never know whose life we might impact because of something we posted on social media. There is so much power in our words. When we change our words from complaining, whining, blaming or criticizing to faith-filled, encouraging, loving and caring words, we change our world.

Let’s be billboards that make God famous. We are missionaries because we are on a mission. We have been sent. We were sent the second the first spark of life flickered in our mother’s womb and now to wherever we are today and to whoever crosses our paths – via the street or the internet!

When we read Jesus words in Mark 16:15 to "Go into all the world and preach the good news", little did we realize we could do it right from the comfort of our homes. So, let's preach that good news today! So many need to hear it!

The Only Story You'll Regret is the One Left Untold

I have little time to scroll through my FB timeline, but when I do, I often get a bright idea for my next blog. I saw a post a few days ago and it inspired me to keep telling stories of my past. Even though my listeners and readers may yawn at yet another one of my Mom or Nana stories, I know they might remember that story and pass it on to their kiddos one day. There are many things I would do over in a better way, if I could, but I can't so I won't live in regret. No “what if’s”, “if onlys” – because that’s no way of living. What I do on-purpose to plant seeds and cultivate them is what matters today. See if this friend's FB post gives you some bright ideas too!

“I’ve encountered the worst, most horrible, awful aspect of cleaning out my dad’s house, which belonged to my grandparents before him: we have lost all the stories. I was my dad’s only child, and he was my grandparents’ only child. My dad’s death was unexpected, so I never got the full data dump of family stories from him, especially as it relates to our heirlooms.
I encounter one object after another that is very old, that I know has deep meaning to my family, but I don’t know details. Which clock is the one that was a wedding gift to my great-great grandparents? Whom did this 1892 Bible belong to? What were the items brought to Texas by covered wagon by my ancestors in the 1850s? My dad knew. Now, he’s gone. There is no one left to ask. I will never know. The stories died with him.

Never has the power of "stories" been more apparent to me than today. It’s reminded me of why I defend people sharing their lives on social media, even if it means we’re walking around taking selfies all the time. When someone is photographing or videoing their lives, it’s not usually because they’re vain or addicted to their phone. It’s because they want to share. They have a story to tell and they want someone to hear it.

As someone who is reeling from the loss of stories, I want to encourage you to be bolder in sharing your own. Let us laugh with you when you can’t find your car in the parking lot. Tell us why you ate that one sandwich for lunch. Vent about how you’re really feeling today. As I sit in my family’s house, surrounded by objects full of secrets I’ll never know, I can promise you the only story you’ll regret is the one that doesn’t get told.”

So, tell those stories, dear friends! Let those youngsters know about walking to school in knee-deep snow (that’s for my Canadian family) – my mother-in-law tells those stories. Tell us how you came to know Jesus.Tell us how He made a difference in your life. Tell us about how you nearly gave up -- but God. Tell us about that vase and where it came from. I love that my mother-in-law labels every item that is given to her by a putting piece of masking tape under that item with a name and date.

I talk a lot about my precious husband -- on purpose. My two youngest grands wouldn't typically remember too much about him, but they do because we keep Papa in the present in our conversations and with photos.

So – with this blog today, I’m reaching out to touch you with an S.O.S.! Don’t take chances that you’ll have your loved ones with you forever or that YOU will be on this side of heaven forever! Ask them about their lives – I mean REALLY delve into WHO they were and what their memories were all about. And, you, start telling YOUR story. I promise you – you will be so glad you did – if not today – someday, when you wish you had!

Another Year of Potential and Possibilities

What a breath of fresh air it has been to see such optimism on my FB feed lately. Of course it has to do with all these adorable children heading off to another year of school. Wide-eyed wonder and excitement about what this new year will hold: new friends, new adventures, more challenges that open their minds to possibilities, understanding and building those little minds. They aren’t perplexed at all about what’s going on in politics.

And I especially appreciate how optimistic you parents are with your bold confessions of faith for your kiddos. Maybe the first couple of days were a tackle with getting in a routine again, but for the most part, I’m hearing a sigh of relief that another year is underway. I loved one mom’s prayer: “My prayer tonight as G___ gets ready to take those steps into Middle School and D___ starts a new school year with an unexpected twist. Of all the dreams I have for them, Christ follower is at the top. They've got this and He's got them.♥️”

That’s the attitude we should all have for our children and grandchildren. Of all the knowledge they acquire, all the common sense experiences that they will learn from -- the single most important achievement is to be devoted followers of Christ in their friendships, in the decisions they make and their problem solving with God’s wisdom leading the way.

Luke 2:52 mentions four areas Jesus grew in as a young boy: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” Our Lord grew wiser and He physically grew. His relationship with His Heavenly Father continuously strengthened. Jesus even gained favor with people who saw Him day to day. I love the simple sentence that precedes this: “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” We never see Mary worried and anxious. She pondered about her son, but she didn’t allow her heart to become rattled.

May we all strive to be like Mary, turning our anxious thoughts into treasured prayers, kept safe and held fast by our loving Father — the one who knows our hearts and loves our children even more than we do. When a concern pops up in our mind, we carry that concern to God. When we start to fear for our child’s future, we petition the One who knows what the future holds -- the One Who knows everything about everything.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all these precious children that are starting a new school year. Protect them, encourage them and fill them with strong minds to learn and grow. Help them to be a great friend and to have great friends. I pray the moms and dads turn their concerns and worries into prayers, knowing You are in control. Please help them to treasure each moment with their children as they grow in wisdom and stature and favor with others and You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

God's Not Dead. He's Surely Alive

The slang term "YOLO" certainly doesn't apply to Jesus, does it? Whoever said "You Only Live Once" didn't consider our Lord's living, dying and living again forever! Jesus told his disciples "I'll be back!" And, He kept His promise. Jesus made a comeback like no other. And, the over-the-top good news for us is whatever dismal situation we may be encountering today -- because He lives, we can get ready for a comeback, too!

This morning I’m singing: “God’s not dead. He’s surely alive. Living on the inside. Roaring like a lion.” Indeed He is living on the inside so I know He lives. And anyone who tries to tell me otherwise….is way too late. He showed up for us on this Easter morning 2,000+ years ago, and shows up for us every day! Eyewitnesses stepped up to vouch for it, and heart-witnesses, like you and me, verify we walk and talk with Him every day. If God is dead, then who is this living in my soul?

This Easter morning may be cloudy or raining or a sand storm might be kicking up where you live today. There might be chaos, troubles on every hand, sorrow, weariness and the storms of life may be overshadowing you! But, hold on my child. I have good news for you! Joy, Hope, Peace, Comfort, Life Everlasting showed up this morning. Jesus' tomb wasn't for the dead. That tomb became a Delivery Room for the Son of God. And, you’re not dead. Because He lives – so do you!

Perhaps, today, you are still living in the ashes of defeat, remorse, brokenness, depression, unforgiveness and a tomb is holding you back. You are still alive. Go ahead and put your hand over your heart. If it's beating, God has a destiny and mission for you to fulfill. You're here now, so the resurrection power of Jesus Christ lives big in you. Let Him turn your tomb into a Delivery Room to your new life today! Allow the Resurrected King to resurrect you! In His name, come alive to declare your victory! Romans 8:11 "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you!"

Thank You, Jesus, for Your death and Your rising, Your birth and Your return, Your assurance that ultimately all is well and all will be well. We remember. We celebrate. We wait for the someday when every tear will be wiped away. This is the Easter promise. We are the resurrection people. We have hope. We choose joy. We overcome, always. Amen. He has risen, just as He said! (Matthew 28:6)

To Err is Human.....But Who Likes Making Mistakes?

I spend many hours of my day at my computer; typing my daily posts, providing technical editing for other writers and giving encouragement to friends on social media. With all that typing, editing and publishing, I installed a writing app called "Grammarly". Grammarly's app makes sure my messages, documents, and social media posts are clear and mistake-free. The app highlights the incorrect spelling or punctuation and I just tap on it, and whoa la -- everything is corrected. Within seconds, I've made my corrections and I'm good to go. What a blessing it is, considering the old days when we used a manual or electric typewriter. If we made mistakes with our typing then, we used correcting paper or correcting ink. It was laborious, and often difficult to make corrections if a space was needed between words. Whew! We've come a long way, Baby!

And isn’t that true in our lives, as well? As much as we try to do better, it seems our nature is prone to emotional, physical and spiritual mistakes. Maybe it has to do with the company we're keeping, some unhealthy habits, some compromising of our ethics and integrity, or literally missing the mark. Little mistakes can really slow us down and even limit some of the blessings God wants to give us. I remember back in my early learning-to-type days when I made so many mistakes because I wasn't focusing or I was concentrating more on speed than being mistake-free. Now, at this stage of my life, I really want to be as mistake-free as possible, but like what I heard someone say "I do really well with living mistake-free, but then I get out of bed and meet up with people, and then I need the "correcting fluid" to clean up my mistakes.

I was being challenged by my own post by purposing to live a mistake-free life. I know that's just not possible. As long as we're in these earth suits, we'll be prone to missing the mark. But here's the good news: God is so quick to forgive us when we come to Him, and like the "correcting fluid" I used, "Wite-Out", God applies His "white-out" to our mistakes and not only covers them, but He makes us white as snow. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." Isaiah 1:18 His forgiveness really is divine.

I've come to know that focusing my attention on getting it right in my heart, attitude and life makes for a beautiful page in this chapter and book of my life. My daily prayers are “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!" Psalm 19:4

It’s My 10 Years Anniversary

If you’re on Facebook or if, over the last few weeks, you watched the news about its co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, you'll be amused that my “word of the day” is “Facebook” (FB). FB is a popular free social networking website that allows registered users to create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends and family.

These little photos popped up yesterday because 10 years ago on April 16th, 2008, I became a Facebook user. It was the newest and best tool to connect with friends and family that I hadn’t seen or heard from in years. Then I found it to be painfully ridiculous as I would read posts where people were complaining about their deadbeat husbands or their high energy children or their dog who had left their home in a shambles or were singing that “Somebody Done Me Wrong” song. I didn’t even want to check my page, so I went AWOL with FB.

Then fast forward two years, 2010, when we received my husband’s medical diagnosis of Stage 4 Kidney Cancer. We had been the ones who encouraged and prayed with many people who had serious illnesses. Now, we had to practice what we had preached “Trust God. Live with expectancy of something good getting ready to happen. Throw your hands up in the air and enjoy the ride.” This is when FB became a platform for me to share our faith journey, and in doing so, made sure we were living out what we believed in our hearts...."Nothing is impossible with God" so we expressed optimism, hope, and faith, even though it was the toughest battle we had ever faced in our lives.

Living life out loud on Facebook became a gift to me. I found sweet peace in writing. FB became a place of solace because it connected me to thousands of friends and family members. I needed that connection. I wrote about our faith journey -- conquering and winning through it all -- even his graduation to heaven and to my new world as a widow became a win.

Here's what I know for sure. All those things that seemed so important before, soon became so trivial. My priorities shifted to making moments count more than ever before. Now I know the stuff of life are those everyday precious moments that matter most. Now when I hear people complain about FB and other social media posts being the outlet for people to get depressed, I think “compared to what?” I loved the post of a friend who feels like I do about social media. Here are words she posted a few weeks ago:

“Before social media -- it was the radio and television that made people aware of war, communist threats, potential nuclear meltdown, race wars, starvation, political unrest and maybe one little feel good human interest story on the side. Pretty easy to feel good about yourself when the world is going to hell in a hand basket, right?! Enter the social media age. It is a constant presence in the lives of billions of people across the globe. Facebook alone boasts of nearly 1.8 billion users. A vast majority of people post the “highlight reel” of their lives. They post their cute dogs, their adorable babies, their sexy spouses, sunny vacations and wonderfully decorated living spaces. And it depresses some people? Really? 🛑Not me. I gravitate towards time on social media because I love to see the “happy” in people’s lives. I love their cute babies and dogs, their amazing spouses and homes, and especially those vacations. In fact, if you are a Debbie Downer or a continual Negative Nancy, you will find I have quietly unfriended, unfollowed or hidden your posts. 🙀 I choose to spend my time engaging with positive, uplifting, encouraging post-ers and I look forward to my nightly social media time to check in on the “wonderful” of people’s lives. (No, I don’t watch the news.) For me, posting a selfie that I feel good about is my way of staying positive about my self-image and saying “I think I like myself today.” Can we all please do a little more of that?! " 😘

So, happy 10 year FB anniversary to me. I daily give God thanks for the privilege of having friends like YOU who indulge me as I proclaim God’s good news in my FB posts. I sincerely believe God has me on assignment each day for these 6:00 am posts. Maybe FB annoys you when you see some of the shenanigans of people and some of the outrageous things they say. On the other hand, like me, maybe God is calling you to be a good news "bearer" that sees FB as a mission field where you can share God's love to a world that needs it so much. Maybe it's your light that will turn off the darkness in their world. So shine, Baby, shine!

"Then He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) Thanks, FB, for helping to facilitate 10 years of spreading that "good news". I love living in this glass home where others can see my heart for God and His love for all of my FB friends and family AND me!

God Help Me! My Routine Went AWOL!

Routine: sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program, practice, pattern, regimen, plan, habits, schedule

My routine, first thing each morning, is to send a text message to my children, and my sister-in-law. Just a few love words to let them know that I was thinking about them and praying for them. My next morning routine is to go to my office and tap the SEND icon on my Facebook post and PUBLISH on my blog post. Then I quickly scan some of my friends’ activity on FB. Yesterday, I was shocked to see that my wonderful Tulsa dentist, Dr. Mark Tiernan, had passed away. Dr. Mark was a dear friend, amazing and fearless man of integrity and honor, missionary to nations to give his love away while providing his dental skills to those in need and precious man of God. Heaven just got sweeter.

My next routine is to make my way to the fitness center. I sat down at the stationary bike, inserted my ear plugs and turned on the TV. I should have avoided the news, the bickering and the sensational soundbites. I saw Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook’s creator) giving testimony to Congress about the data breaches that have made global headlines in recent weeks. I hope Congress and Mark can figure it all out and get their ROUTINES fixed, because whatever was wrong, FB is my mission field.

It doesn’t take long to deal with my own emotions, hear personal news from family and friends, along with the daily news, that the weight of the world invades my mind. I returned home from my work out and I was bombarded with those weights – not from the gym, but the world. I began to do the ugly cry – for my friends, my family, my world AND ME! I was having one of THOSE mornings. My upbeat, joy-filled, press-on, unwavering, tenacious attitude AND ROUTINE was interrupted with a wave of doubt, unbelief and concern. I was drenched in a puddle of self-pity.

I rushed to my journal, another routine, and I began to write: “My feelings hurt! I’m too sensitive. I’m too fleshly. I'm weary. I feel so weak. Restore my soul, oh Lord. Renew a right spirit within me. Lord, PLEASE HELP ME!” I quickly went to another of my morning routines, my Bible and my devotional booklet. Up popped these scriptures from Psalm 34, and, soon, all was well.
~ “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be in my mouth.”
~ "I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
~ “Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush with shame."
~ “Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in Him."

Thanks be to God. I could breathe again. I’m so thankful that the Bible goes to great lengths to show us that all the people on its pages were ordinary and average, doing one little thing after another, rooted in trust, grounded in good news, and drenched in fear or hopelessness. Even people like Moses, Noah, Abraham and Sarah had their weaknesses and made their missteps. The only one who rose above it all was Jesus. As for the rest of the people in all the stories of the Bible, God filled them up with His Holy Spirit and breathed life into their ROUTINES, their dreams and their plans, and God, through ordinary people who did ordinary things, made miracles happen that changed the world for good.

Maybe today, your ROUTINE is out of whack. You also long for the “all is well” state of being. Take heart, my friends. All IS well. We just need to keep breathing….deeply. We do our part. We fight the good fight. We keep looking up. We can count on God's ROUTINE...He is ALWAYS faithful.

Every Place We Live Can Be Bethlehem

 My post today was inspired by a dear friend and wonderful encourager, Carolyn Cline Boyle. She is radiant, joy-filled and exudes the love of Christ every time I see her. She is also one of my followers on Facebook. Her comments after my post, yesterday, were especially meaningful to me. My post was entitled "Mary, Did You Know?" This was Carolyn's comment to that post:

"Every morning your words bring me back to the meaning of this beautiful season. Life is moving so quickly, the world is so full of conflict and struggle and I need to realign my reason for being, when all this is swirling around. We have a manger scene in almost every room and I am going to take a deep breath and take time at each one with a special prayer each day. I am so blessed to have this world of faith “cocooning” me and I am so blessed to read your words, dear Donna!"

I shared those words with you not to impress you, but to impress upon you what I heard. Carolyn said she was going to take a deep breath at her manger scenes and offer a special prayer. I, too, have many nativity/manger scenes that I strategically place in my living, dining and kitchen area, but I moved them about my home to the bedrooms, office and even my bathrooms after I read her comments. I want my own journey to Bethlehem and the manger to inspire me and my visitors in every room.

When my now 16-year old granddaughter, was about 4 years old, she loved playing with all the characters in my larger nativity set. One day she started to play and baby Jesus was missing. She went into panic mode "Baby Jesus is gone. Where is Baby Jesus?" she cried. We later realized her big brother (age 5 years old at the time) had hidden baby Jesus from her. It was finally a "Silent Night, Holy Night" when Jesus was returned to His manger.

The Christmas Story is much more than a nativity set. It is a picture of how close Christ will come to us. The first stop on His itinerary was Mary's womb. Christ grew in Mary until He came out. And, Jesus gives us the same offer. "If you'll let Me, I'll move into you." He is IN us and I pray He will come out in our speech, in our actions, in our decisions. Then, not just in the manger scenes, but Bethlehem will be in every place we live, and every day we live will be a Christmas when you and I, like Mary, will deliver Christ to our world.

"Christ in YOU, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Let every heart prepare Him room.