Taking “Training Up a Child” to a Whole New Level

During this unexpected schooling-at-home, I have received so much entertainment from many of my friends. I’ve watched some hilarious antics, as well as creative YouTube videos of moms becoming “at-home-school” principals. One meme said: “Homeschool Day 1: Wondering how I can get this kid transferred out of my class”. Another one said: “It’s Day 1 of Homeschool: Out of the four of us, only three of us cried.” And, this one: “Home Schooling Update: My child just said I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year.”

I was able to fly the coop to my Austin family. I'm enjoying my two youngest grands with their homeschooling. Bryson, age 13, is good at it since he's been homeschooled for years. Brennan, age 15, has adapted well. I witnessed him creating and giving a presentation via video in several locations around their property with creativity and ingenuity. Amazing!

Homeschooling wasn't a consideration back in my day. But, church-schooling was. In those years, we learned every Bible story and memorized a lot of scriptures. Even in those early years, we learned to call upon the God of those Bible stories and scriptures to be our "help". The older we became, the more we realized that all of those years of child training established us in life. We carried those same principles on, and into our children, who are leading their own children by that example.

I’ve loved seeing the moms and dads who are integrating Bible stories and scriptures into their homeschooling during this quarantine. The scripture “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he’ll not depart from it” is an ANCHOR scripture from Proverbs 22:6. What if God allowed these times to be the foundation for their present and future – even to the extent of their future children someday?

Children are so impressionable in their environments. Where there is abusive language and actions or where there is calm and patience – they will potentially take on as their normal. They learn by example. I realize our faith was built upon the example of our parents and what they taught us from the way they loved each other and spoke to or about each other. They instilled in us the fortitude, tenacity, unwavering faith and strength to draw from, and to know that God loves us unceasingly. They taught us that when the going gets tough and pressures seem insurmountable, we have a confidence in knowing God is able and willing to meet our every need. We know our hope and trust was, and always will be, in the One whose steadfast love never ceases and His faithfulness will always carry us through.

Seriously, dear moms and dads – my heart goes out to you and what you have been forced to take on during this time of quarantine. Hopefully, you’ll never be in these circumstances again after this quarantine ends. But, more than that, I pray these words impress you enough to never stop training your children and grandchildren in the ways they should go. I promise you...it is worth the effort!

The Right Side of the Bed Makes a Difference

Good Morning, Sunshine! That's what I said to these beautiful skies on my walk yesterday! I wonder if that's what we hear God say back to us when we roll out of bed each morning? Do we hit the ground running, with spring in our step and gladness in our heart? Are we a ray of sunshine to all who see us – no matter what time of day it is?

I’ve been this waking-up-and-smell-the-roses kind-of-gal for a long time now. I make it a point to be a ray of sunshine when I get up in the morning. I spoke this girl into existence. I was always an early-riser, but not with that sunny disposition. But, I became her. Most of the time, I start my day in a state of joy and gratitude. I love the idea of a new day with all the potential of God-moments and opportunities that await me. And, now that I’m on this 6 am walk-a-thon each morning, I’ve come to appreciate it even more so.

I’ve enjoyed watching Michael Bublé and his adorable Argentina wife, Luisana, on their Facebook Live videos during quarantine. I don’t look for them but they pop up automatically on my scrolls. Happy, positive, adoring each other – and even more so after their 4-year-old son, Noah, recovered from liver cancer and is now thriving. I said it a few days ago, but this applies to them as well “What didn’t kill them, made them stronger!” I didn’t realize it until a few days ago, that they met in 2009 on the set of his music video “I Never Met You Yet!” She was the girl – that he did meet and married. I especially appreciated when Michael emotionally praised Jesus for his boy's cancer remission during an appearance on James Corden’s show.

I took a rabbit trail. I was getting to one of my favorite Michael Buble's songs: “It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life, for me, and I’m feeling good!” But, I've heard many people say: "I'm not a morning person so don't talk to me until I've had my coffee!" When I hear someone talk like that, I think "Pleassse -- don't say that! With God's help and your determination, you can be a morning, afternoon AND night person!"

If I got up in a MOOD, my Mama would say: "You got up on the wrong side of the bed. Go get back in, please, and get up on the right side!" My Mama didn't take too well to grumpiness (and believe me, she had plenty to be grumpy about). She taught me to bring sunshine to our mornings. The fact is, if our family and friends have to deal with our grumpiness just because we got up, it could dampen their "sunshine" spirit. God loves "morning" people, so that's reason enough to become a "morning" person. Listen to His Word here:

~ "Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW EVERY MORNING; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
~ "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." - Proverbs 8:17.

God promises us His great love, unfailing compassion and mercies that are new every morning. So, whether we are a morning songbird getting up at 6, 8 or 10, or a night owl, the point is that every day is a brand new day with God so why not get up by looking UP? We say: "Good-bye yesterday to its worries and fears" and say "Good Morning, Sunshine! It's gonna' be a GREAT day!"

God Has Always Had a People

As relentless as I am to be optimistic, I know there will be plenty of opportunities to go rogue and get caught up in the whirlwinds of negativity that will, no doubt, get even more ferocious in 2020. After all, it’s a presidential election year, and, well, if you’ve paid any attention at all to the rancor and nausea-inducing negativity, you’ll know 2020 will not be for the faint of heart.

That’s why we must shift our mindsets and our thinking from falling prey to that darkness. Our true colors will be revealed this year. We’re going to witness just how Christian we really are. How kind. How compassionate. How courageous. How committed. How fervent we are in prayer and absolute certainty that God is in control. The real questions are “What kind of representatives of Christ are we?” How deep is our faith? How different is our voice than the mean-spirited voices that surround us and bombard us 24/7, if we let them?

The key to UNLOCKING the PLENTY in 2020 of God’s grace and love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.– the fruit of the Spirit -- is letting our lights shine so much brighter than the darkness that permeates the other side. It doesn’t take going to see a Star Wars movie to realize that we are in a constant battle of darkness (the dark side) and the light side.

The crazier (and darker) things get, the more clearly our light MUST shine. I sincerely believe God has always had a people – a people who represent Him as His non-compromising followers. There’s a shaking about to occur. I believe it’s going to be a time when God's people rise up with wisdom and insight and courage, and live above the political fray.

When I was writing this blog and typed the words “God has always had a people”, I remembered that was a line in the song, “The Church Triumphant” written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. I googled it. Just take a look at these words in the interlude. They nail it – nail the hand-writing on the wall of WHO we are and WHOSE we are:

"God has always had a people. Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he'd driven the Church of Jesus Christ out of sight, that he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life, but God has always had a people. The powerful current of a river is not diminished because it is forced to flow underground. The purest water is the stream that bursts crystal clear into the sunlight after it has forced its way through solid rock. There are charlatans, who like Simon the magician sought to barter on the open market this power which cannot be bought or sold but God has always had a people; men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase. God has always had a people.There have been times of affluence and prosperity where the Church's message has been nearly diluted into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, re-organized and financially profitable. It's been gold plated, draped in purple and encrusted in jewels. It's been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded and scorned. These followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated as sacred leaders and martyred as heretics. Yet through it all, there marches on this powerful army. God's chosen people who cannot be bought, flattered, murdered or stilled. On through the ages they march. This church, God's church is ALIVE and WELL.

And, yes, my friend and fellow believers in the Church and the Cross of Jesus Christ, let us STAND tall, knowing that we are on the LIGHT side – the Church Triumphant side -- and we know, based on the end of the book – WE WIN!

"You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame." Joel 2:26-27

Happy 2020! Let's Be Front-Liners!

I am amped up about this new year! I share these words that I texted my children yesterday. Since I’ve attained the “wiser, older” status with all these years under my belt, I get to pour it on -- believing they are words straight from heaven-central:

“Praise God. I am so excited for 2020. I see it as a year of overcoming, many victories won, and what the enemy meant for evil, God is going to bring about so much good (Genesis 50:20). I see dreams and visions coming true for my family. I see above and beyond all we can ask or think according to the power that works (God’s power) in us (Ephesians 3:20). So, let’s power-up! Miracles upon miracles, blessings upon blessings, I decree and declare over my family in Jesus’ name. I have something stirring inside me that believes and sees it for all of my family – from the youngest (Bryson) to me, the oldest. There is an anticipation building inside me that this is going to be a miraculous year for our family. God is setting up His people for a powerful, mighty move of God. Let’s agree together to not settle for less than His power working in us this year – being instruments of His peace everywhere we go and we see others through the lens of Jesus and we encourage them, give them words of life and peace. They will leave our presence with new hope and expectation for their lives. I decree and declare it so, in Jesus mighty name. Amen. I love you so, so much!”

I encourage you to stand up strong and take faith-filled words and declare them with fervent belief over your families. Display and live out holy, righteous boldness in faith this year.

Some of us are skeptical about 2020 because 2019 was such a rough year. We can take the woe-is-me approach to this new year OR we can be a front-liner on God’s team and we can let Him strategically position us for a major harvest of blessings – and while we’re being blessed – we’re positioned in His army for bringing in an army of lost souls to His saving grace, too! We’ve been in boot camp, so to speak, and we graduated with flying colors. I have holy butterflies fluttering inside me because I'm determined to be on that "front-liner" team.

I sense, for those who are willing, that God is opening our eyes with 20/20 vision for our assignments this year -- having depth of perception, skills that discern the enemy with the ability to take him out with precision. I'm believing for now-moments where God will download breakthrough strategies for this year.

I sense that radical faithfulness to standing strong in the heat of the battle in 2019 was seen by God. Despite what we went through, we trusted God. He was and is watching us TODAY – this first day of the new year. I believe He has been singling out front-liners and I'm raising my hand! Pick me, Lord!

I sincerely believe this will be a new year of such closeness to God that we’ll hear His heartbeat and we'll see through His lens for His people. He is giving us 20/20 vision and we shouldn’t be afraid to step out boldly in faith. Remember Moses and his fears? “Then Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant. But I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." The Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who made the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you must say" (Exodus. 4:10-12).

I believe that in this new year and new decade, we will respond to God's nudges and His whispers to stepping up and going where He sends us. We will conquer because He goes before us. He is our Father and will not leave or forsake us. So, won’t you join me and be a front-liner this year?

The Greatest “Once-Upon-A Time” Love Story Ever

Don’t you love that start to a movie or a story because you just know there's going to be a happy ending at the end. I love thinking about my own “Once upon a time” love story, but no love story compares to this beginning…..

Once upon a tree…..a Creator gave His life for His creation. From the very beginning of time…..this true story began….but there was never, and there will never be a “The End”, to this story. It took our Creator stepping up to give His life for His creation so that all of man’s mistakes from the beginning of time, could have a happy EVER AFTER!

Every one of us are writing our stories by the way we live our lives each day. No, we don't have to have a "Once upon a tree"....story, because God lived that story once and for all for all of us. Some of our stories may seem ho-hum, while other stories may be adventures-of-a-lifetime every day, but we can choose how our story reads out. Maybe one of these beginnings would look good in your story:

Once upon a phone…..a devoted follower of Christ shared encouragement and love with his friend, and the friend met the Creator through him. It was a happy-ever-after phone story.

Once upon a greeting card….. there was someone who was hurting so much, but she realized someone else was hurting more than she was, so she shared the faithfulness of God in her card, and they both received renewed strength for their journeys of faith.

Once upon a car…..someone’s friend needed a ride to their doctor, so the driver became a chauffeur for God that showed what “mercy” looks like.

Once upon a dollar…..a kind-hearted soul, gave that dollar, and a hug, to a blind man holding a tin cup.

Once upon a rope…..someone tossed the end to a drowning man and saved their life. That day, the rope and the rope-thrower became a life-saver.

Once upon an altar…..someone gave their time to pray for someone who needed a Savior.

And that brings us right back to the very beginning of the “Once upon the beginning of time” story that has no ending, because in each of those scenarios the answer came with Jesus’ words to Peter “Peter do you love me? Then, feed my lambs. Peter do you love me? Feed my sheep.” And those words to Peter are Jesus’ words to us. “Do you love me? Love and care for my sheep.”

God started it all. He gave His one and only Son’s life for those who come to know Him as Lord. He asks us to be a part of His never ending story. Maybe we are the answer to someone’s prayers and, of course, we are the answer to sharing God’s story enough to give those He loves a never-ending story of their own.

In between the “Once upon a time” and the “happy ever after”…..there’s a whole lotta living going on – living to love and serve others, loving enough to be a light that draws them to the cross where our Savior died and to the empty tomb where He no longer lives, but is seated at the Father’s right hand, interceding and welcoming us to our HAPPY EVER AFTER with Him.

Once upon a Facebook post, someone told this story with the great expectation that God’s story begins in YOU and me!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

MY Mercies are New Every Morning

I wish that those words were my words. I mean MY mercies. I read this scripture: “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23. I know those words are so true. I know His faithful love, His fresh mercy each morning. But, then there’s ME! What about my love, my faithfulness, my mercy to others? I want MY faithful love, MY faithfulness and MY mercies for others to never end.

I’ll admit it. My love, faithfulness and mercies falter. Sometimes I’ll get bugged because there are no cashiers in all those cashier lines and I’m standing in a long line at the only one line that is open. Then there's the lawn sprinklers that are aimed at the street more than their lawn and my clean car gets hit. And, the McDonald's drive-thru leaves out the fork and napkin for my pancakes as I drive home from Tulsa and I have to use my fingers! Argh! Sometimes I’ll get aggravated at a driver who cuts in between me and another car and I almost hit him. And, then yesterday, the engine light came on my car again, after it was in the shop all day, the day before. I had to take it in again -- another day for not getting all my errands done. To top it off, I need MY mercies for me, who is oftentimes my biggest challenge. Oh that MY mercies were new every morning!

I sincerely desire to be like Jesus. He set the example for us in the love, faithfulness and mercy departments. Clearly, that’s why God set Him as our role model. He modeled how to do it. God daily invites us to come and sit with Him and His Word (His "how to" manual) to learn about His Son’s countless ways of never-ending love, faithfulness, and mercies.

Sometimes we’re overridden with guilt about our lack of performance. We turn down His invitation to meet Him at the watering (Living Water) well. Maybe you’re familiar with some of these thoughts: “It’s been so long since I’ve sat down with my Bible. I can’t remember the last time I prayed for more than a few hurried minutes. Who am I to ask God to speak to me?”

But how wrong to think those thoughts. God isn’t keeping a spiritual scorecard to see when we deserve the right to sit in His presence and feast on His Word. His invitation has nothing to do with our performance and everything to do with His mercies and desire to fill us with His wisdom and encouragement.

My heart is overwhelmed by the example that God gives to us. His mercies are unending. And He extends a fresh, grace-filled invitation for us to draw close to Him each and every morning. His eyes are brimming with hope that we’ll accept His invitation afresh today. He knows the more we lean in closer to Him, the more we’ll become like Him. That’s my prayer today.

Make me more like You, Jesus. Give me a heart that’s filled with love AND mercy, and make me more like You! A merciful heart like yours each and every morning. Lord, have MERCY!

Proven Way to Get Your Way

Oh my. This girl. She. Cracks. Me. Up.
On the way to Beavers Bend a couple of weeks ago, my granddaughter was working her daddy over to stop "pleeease" stop at a Chick-fil-A so she could get a biscuit. We were already running behind in our schedule. And she could have easily gotten herself one at the nearby Chick-fil-A where she works at not too far from our homes, but she wasn't hungry then. This day, and time, you would think that she was an "expectant" mother with her craving for a Chick-fil-A biscuit. Nothing seemed to work for her in her appeal for her dad to stop, even though she used every tactic imaginable. He was bound and determined to catch up on the time we had lost. After all, those fish were just waiting for us to catch them!

Then, our drama queen applied a Russian accent along with a proposition he couldn't refuse "Dad, I'll buy you a biscuit also if you'll stop for me." Needless to say, he couldn't refuse and it just so happened, within a few blocks, was a Chick-fil-A. Pleading her case in that Russian accent sealed the deal. It was a hilarious moment for all of us.

I started thinking about Alexia's "begging" strategies, and it made me think about how we plead and beg God for answers to our prayers. Alexia knew her dad's faithfulness. We know our Heavenly Father's faithfulness. Our faith gets bolstered when we ask and we receive. His love is unfailing. But sometimes, we desperately need God to prove His faithfulness and His unfailing love in our lives RIGHT NOW!

A story is found in Mark 9:14-27 about a man who brought his son to Jesus’ disciples because an evil spirit possessed his boy. Unfortunately, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t drive the spirit out. Jesus was away at the time, and when He returned, a large crowd had gathered for a theological discussion. Seeing the crowd, Jesus asked what they were arguing about. The father told him how awful life was for his boy and how Jesus’ disciples failed to help. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith then focused His attention on the boy. As the evil spirit acted out, the boy’s father prayed, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. Jesus heard the father’s desperate plea and picked up on one tiny, two-letter word: if. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes” (v. Mark 9:23).

And then the father responded with one of the most honest prayers I’ve ever heard: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

How many of us, if we were really honest, pray as this dad did. “I do, believe, Lord, but please help me with my doubt.” My favorite part of this story is the next part. Jesus helped this dad with his doubt by answering his prayer. I love that!! Just like the father who brought his son to Jesus, we also really know that God hears our prayers, is intimately aware of our needs, and that He has the power to solve our problems. It’s one thing to profess a distant belief in the faithfulness and love of a faraway God but quite another to experience His faithfulness and love as it intersects our desperate heart's cry. It is quite all right to beg God to answer our prayers quickly. Begging is OK. Not that we have to beg God, because his tender loving-kindness is for us and to give us what we need the most. But coming to Him and asking in whatever accent we are using, we can expect to receive. His Word says "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9).

If you're there needing a NOW answer, please pray with me: "Dear Jesus, I do believe! Help me with my unbelief! I have this need [tell Him all about it], and I desperately need You to help me." I set myself in agreement for your prayers to be answered and if the answer doesn't come right away, God is simply replying "Just a minute! I'm working out a plan that's better than RIGHT NOW!"

Enjoy the antics of my granddaughter and remember that God’s ear is always open to us. Maybe try your best accent. Now, back to my "multi-lingual" granddaughter and this video. The last night at Beaver's Bend, Alexia and I stayed back at the cabin while the others fished more. We were sitting on the cabin deck when Alexia noticed we had new neighbors. She picked up the broom and started to go into motion with her Swedish accent about how we need to help them sweep their porch and rid themselves of the bacterias of this world: hate, sin, and unicorns. Go ahead. Laugh along with me. It's good medicine for what ails you!

https://youtu.be/fvLzVXtOTyk

God's Faithfulness is New Every Morning

I often take a meal to Mom's for us to share and "catch up" on what's going on in our little corner of the world. Last week, we had our usual conversation, drew cards from her Bread of Life Promise Box which contains various scriptures, which by the way, she has all memorized. I started reading the one she pulled for me, and she quoted it right along as I read it. She's had that Promise Box for as long as I can remember, and it always seems the promise we draw, are "right on" for "the word" we need for that day.

I looked up at her little corner stand by her kitchen table and took in the sweet photo of her and Dad alongside that beautiful scripture and song, "Great is Thy faithfulness," taken from Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

I think back on the faithfulness of God for this precious couple. Though they went through many storms of life in the natural, physical and spiritual, those words were always those that they held onto. Those words on that plaque held true for her and Dad when the devastating tornado blew through their home and destroyed everything around them, except for the shower stall they were standing in -- the faithfulness of God brought them through it without even a scratch on them.

I always enjoy seeing Facebook's "On This Day" that comes up each day in our timeline (that is, if you've agreed to have it come up). Since I only started using FB in 2009, that's as far back as my "On This Day" goes back. (By the way, if you'd like to see your "On This Day" posts, just go to www.Facebook.com/OnThisDay and yours should pop up. I remember when, in 2009, how much FB annoyed me. It seemed it was just a haven for people complaining or whining about stuff, so I avoided it. But, then, when my sweetheart became so ill with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer, I knew it would take on a whole new meaning for me. It would be my daily journal to show the faithfulness of God during what was the toughest, yet the sweetest time of our live. God's faithfulness took us through it all. I know that because of FB's "On This Day" and I'm reminded how sweetly God carried us through those days.

What is it about those times that seem so crushing and disappointing, yet they become the most victorious and purposeful times of our lives? It's the faithfulness of a loving God Who displays His sufficiency in the midst of our insufficiency, His peace in the midst of our chaos, and His grace in the midst of our being so lost.

God's faithfulness -- strength for today -- hope for tomorrow -- and unwavering love that causes us to sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness". Knowing that, it sure makes the journey so sweet.

Pennies From Heaven

When I was almost to Austin on Monday, Ryan called to ask me to meet up with him at a business in downtown where he was in a meeting.

While I was with him at the business meeting, I went into the ladies room and I was amazed when I saw the floor. It was literally made of all pennies. The big deal about that wasn’t the thought about the painstaking process it must have taken to lay out all those pennies, but immediately, as I do whenever I see a penny on the ground, I picked it up because I know it’s God’s reminder for me to trust Him more. After all, each penny has “In God We Trust” on it.

While I was in that restroom, I said it over and over, “In God I trust; in God I trust; in God I trust.” In these unsettled times we live in, perhaps one of the greatest signs from heaven that everything’s gonna’ be alright is to find pennies or simply when we’re pulling a penny out of our pocket or purse to step up our faith game and remind ourselves….”No mere man can be the answer to everything, but our all knowing and all loving God can."

Just maybe there really is something to the famous quote “Pennies FROM Heaven!” God is constantly sending reminders of His faithfulness to us.

JUST DO IT

Day 308 of Photo Inspirations -- JUST DO IT!
Yesterday's Bible Study was on the Fruit of the Spirit's quality of Faithfulness.   What does "faithfulness" look like to you?  If God is our standard for faithfulness, then we have a lot to measure up to.  Just the thought of His faithfulness, overwhelms me.  He never gives up on us.  He's ALWAYS there for us. We never have to question His fidelity, loyalty and integrity.  He just DOES IT!

Nike's slogan "Just Do It" is a good slogan for Faithfulness -- just doing it -- the right thing -- no matter what.  Doing it regardless of feelings, moods or desires.  

Of course, we look to God for His strength on a daily basis.  Every day we're tempted to give excuses for NOT DOING IT.  We're tired, so we say “I can’t do it.”  We're just plain lazy, so we say, "I don’t want to do it."  We're feeling hopeless, so we say, "It doesn’t matter if I do it.  Why try?"  We procrastinate, so we say, “I’ll do it later."  We rationalize that we don't need to do it, so we say, "Someone else will do it."  We're apathetic to it all, so we say, “I don’t care if I do it."   We're rebellious, so we say, "I won't do it!"
 
Let’s bring it home.  What are the true marks of faithfulness that we want to bear and emulate with a JUST DO IT attitude:

We follow through…on whatever we have to do and we finish it.
We come through….no matter what.
We deliver the goods…..a borrowed cup of sugar.or a finished project.
We show up…..even early so others won’t worry.
We keep our word….our 'yes' means yes and our 'no' means no
We keep our commitments and appointments….we don't cancel.
We are regular church attenders......we don’t neglect worshipping our FAITHFUL God.
We are devoted to fidelity, loyalty, integrity and honor in friendships and marriage.
We live by the Golden Rule and the 10 Commandments.  

We may stumble from time to time, but we don’t stay down for long -- for we are faithful and devoted followers of Christ.  One day we’ll be rewarded because of our FAITHFULNESS and we'll hear these beautiful words: ‘Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant! You have been FAITHFUL with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21

Choose FAITHFULNESS!

The Best TREAT Ever

 Day 298 of Photo Inspirations -- The Best TREAT Ever
Once upon a time there was a beautiful lady named Molly who fell in love with a handsome man named David.  They were happily married for many years and then on October 31st, God gave this happy couple a precious gift from heaven.  It wasn't a pumpkin or a ghost or a goblin, or any other TRICK. They must have been very, very good because He gave them a very special TREAT!  And their TREAT was a precious little baby girl who they named “Lydia".  “Lydia” means “worshipper of God“!  And true to her name, she has been, and is, a true worshipper of God.  You'll find her at any given time with her Bible in hand -- reading and praying for her family and friends.

This precious lady, "Mom", means the world to me, because were it not for her, my life would have never been filled with such love, joy, and happiness from having her son as my precious husband. I celebrate her and her life of giving, loving, and caring for so many. She has been a true gift to all who know her. She has left her mark on so many lives, including mine. Though she is actually my mother-in-law, it has always been so natural to call her "Mom", because she's always treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was just 12 years old and has continued to love me, support me, pray for me and encourage me all these years.

I know there's lots of funny, and often "catty" remarks about"mother-in-laws".  That's too bad, because if it weren't for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts.  We need to appreciate them, respect them, honor them and give them our gratitude.  And, isn't that the kind of "in-law" we want to be for our children's and grandchildren's spouses?

On this 93rd birthday of Lydia Wuerch, I pay special tribute to a beautiful, thoughtful and devoted Mom, Granny and friend to so many.  God must have loved us so much, that He gave her to us as the best TREAT ever.  I celebrate this special day, I honor her with my greatest devotion and thanksgiving to God for her life, her continual prayers for us for so many years and for the living example she is of knowing God, His faithfulness and His love.  Happy "93rd" Birthday, Mom!

A True Romance is Going On

Day 269 of Photo Inspirations -- A True Romance is Going On
So I've known romance.  My husband was the truest romantic EVER.  He loved candlelight, love songs, little "I love you" notes, surprise date locations, slow dancing, surprise gifts, and though I knew I wasn't the most beautiful girl in the world, he made me feel like I was.

I'm studying and preparing for a Bible Study I'll be leading, starting next Monday, the 5th.  God led me to the study of  "Knowing Them By Their Fruit" and "The Fruit of the Spirit".  The Fruit of the Spirit's qualities are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  I believe the foundational quality of them all is LOVE.  After all, GOD IS LOVE, and He embodies all of those qualities.  That's why we pray...."Make me more like YOU!"

“And now abide these three: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13

Yes, my Sweetheart was a true romantic.  But the love talked about in this verse is the truest of true romantic loves.  The love of God -- THE purest love.   Completely selfless, immensely sacrificial, unstoppable, a burning and unquenchable passion, a jealous and unchanging love.  This makes it the strongest possible kind.  And one that is so incomparable.  It can’t be bought, it is only given.  It is never manipulated, but given with grace.  And it can never, ever be broken.  The truth is, not even death can contain, limit or abolish this awesome love of God.

And here's some really good news that those of us may miss or be longing for -- our relationship with God is a romance.  And a greater romance has never been told.  It’s a romance that is eternal, not like the world’s.  It’s a romance that is infinite.  It was being formed before the universe was spoken into existence.   That same love is the one, the same power that sustained Christ when He gave up His last breath on the cross to save a heartless and undeserving world.  And THAT love is woven and knit into each of His children.  He is constantly wooing us and romancing us through blessings that He continually pours out on our lives.  When no human stands with us through a storm, He is always there.  When we experience heartache and pain, He remains faithful.  This love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.  Our romantic God shows us us what TRUE LOVE and TRUE romance is all about!

Here is how our romantic God shows what TRUE LOVE is:
Love is patient. Love is kind.  Love is not jealous. Love is not boastful.  Love is not rude.  Love is selfless.  Love forgives and forgets.  Love rejoices in the truth. Love never fails.

To God Be The Glory, Honor and Praise

"How can I say thanks for all the things He's done for me? Things so undeserved yet He gave to prove His love for me -- the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude -- all that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee! To God, be the glory -- for the things He has done!"

Those are words from Andrae Crouch's beautiful song, "My Tribute", and they are words that sincerely express my heart of thanksgiving. I can't begin to express my gratitude enough for God's faithfulness, His unconditional love, His peace and joy that I know -- not because of anything I've done or deserved. It is simply His amazing grace that has sustained me, protected me, and provided for me -- more than I could have ever imagined possible. I'm so grateful for my life -- the past, the present and the future. I know everything I am and everything I hope to be, is because of His great love. He deserves all the glory and honor and praise. Oh, how He loves YOU and ME!

Faith in God's Faithfulness

I'm a really strong chick -- not because life has been easy....I just got stronger with each challenge that came my way! As we get stronger, the struggles in life, that once were difficult -- are now a piece of cake. And no matter what our struggles are, God will never let it be too much for us to handle. Bottom line.....it's not OUR FAITH that gets the job done. It's our FAITH in God's faithfulness that gets it done! Now let's go bench press a hundred pounds!!

Bitter or Better?

I have an Aunt who has been in a British Columbia hospital for over 15 months now -- Crohn's Disease -- and, after all she's gone through -- so many surgeries, in so much pain, and many other complications -- she remains joy-filled, thankful, and continues to give God praise to be alive. Her faithful husband rides the bus for 45 minutes each way to go see her each day. I continue to tell them...."You are on assignment! People are encountering THE LIGHT when they see you! You have been seasoned with God's peace, His joy and His faithfulness.....'for such a time as this'! All roads of your life have led you to this time!"
And, I see that in my life.....the faith journeys have led me to this time of "singing in the rain", of "coming through the fire -- and not smelling like smoke"!
What have the experiences of your life brought you to? Are you bitter.....or better because of them? Are those problems making you....or breaking you? Are you a Victor or a Victim? Are you comforting others with the comfort that you've been comforted with? If you are....you KNOW you're on assignment.....are on purpose....living in GOD's master plan.....and are causing people to come face-to-face with a BETTER WAY! Indeed....you are BETTER and are a VICTOR.....and you're causing others to be that, too!