Ready or Not -- Here Comes Change!

Change: to make (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone

Speaking of CHANGES…..I was born and raised in Dallas when there were still trolleys here. Yikes! Trolleys stopped running in the 50's -- a hint just how old this ole’ gal is. I remember those rides with my daddy. If I had been in a time sleep from then to now, I wouldn’t recognize my city. I live in Frisco now, which is just north of Dallas. This once sleepy little farm town of Frisco, is the 4th fastest growing cities in the U.S. It’s a magnet for new businesses and residential home purchases. CHANGES!

My post today isn't about fast growth in our cities. It's about welcoming CHANGE. Our lives really are seasonal and when we are unwilling to accept change, we become stagnant in our physical, spiritual and mental state. To come into a new season and to grow in our faith, we must let go of the old one. Isaiah 43:18 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." One of the many lessons life teaches us is to let go. Whew! That's not an easy one when we're sending our little ones off to school for the first time or for our high schoolers to go off to college and leave the nest. It's okay to be inclined to feel the pangs of what once was, but NEVER should we stay there.

I've developed a way of positively viewing change in my life. Watching the love of my life pass away was one of the most life-changing times for me. When he took his last breath, of course I had mixed feelings. I had joy that his suffering was over, but painfully aware that he was no longer here with me. Talk about change. That morning I was married, and that night I was a widow. Now, I think I've mastered the art of "change" -- enough so, that I can share some of the "change" lessons I've learned to perhaps help you with change:

1. Life is About the Cycle of Life -- When we realize the cycle of life is part of our journey of life, we'll embrace every moment we have with each other. Enjoy the good times, and realize the not so good times are just temporary.

2. Wisdom Is Earned -- There is no amount of money in the world that would convince me to go back in time. I am so happy to be where I am, and to have the knowledge that I have. I EARNED where I am, and the wisdom I've achieved was through change and experience. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

3. Learn To Let Go -- When I hear, "That's easy for you to say. I don't think I can handle it!" And my response, "Oh, yes you can. God's grace will be with you and you will make the necessary changes. God gave your children, your friends and loved ones to you for a season. Now free them to live in their season. Accept it, and move forward. And when a loved one goes HOME, their assignment on earth ends. Our assignment continues. This is OUR race -- we MUST keep running. Let them GO!

4. Change Always Leads To Good -- The reality about change is we may not like it, but, inevitably it leads to something good. I look back at my life and I see a common thread. When something “bad” happened, it always led us to a better place. The tough times didn't last for us, but we became tough people.... THAT HAS lasted. I became ONE TOUGH COOKIE!

I promise you.....the ability to go from resisting change to embracing change can happen, but maybe not overnight. And it wasn't overnight that all those trees came down, that buildings and roads and highways were put into and through my city. But today, there are bright lights all around that represent the beauty of the changes. We must surrender “our ways and our plans” to “God’s ways and God’s plans”. Jeremiah 29:11 clearly gives us God’s way “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What an amazing trade off...to be in His ways.

Now I pray this prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot CHANGE; courage to CHANGE the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” Now, look at the bright lights of change in your world. You'll find them -- just be willing to CHANGE!

Where Do You Get Your Daily NOURISHMENT From?

My word for today is NOURISHMENT -- the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition; sustenance, nutrition, provision

Yesterday, my granddaughter, Alexia Wallace, came over to help with racking my leaves. I picked up a Chick Fil A breakfast for us (Alexia’s main hang-out – it’s her place of work and her favorite place to eat.).

We needed NOURISHMENT to get us through the task that laid all over my yard and porch. That was the second time of racking this winter. Yes, Winter. Our Fall went straight to Winter before all the leaves fell off Many are still hanging on for dear life, but a ton have made their way, like a wind tunnel, to my front porch and yard. I think the neighbors’ leaves joined mine. Six bags of leaves later, we could rest from our labors. Once upon a time – my Alexia wanted to play in the leaves. Yesterday, she NOURISHED her Nana with her young agile body AND her heart to serve.

More important than my daily food NOURISHMENT for my physical well-being, is what I feed on that keeps me strong mentally and spiritually – that which NOURISHES and sustains my soul and spirit.

Romans 10:17 says “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Our faith hungers for that food that will cause it to be NOURISHED and to grow. Faith feeds on God's Word (the Bible) and faith is NOURISHED and grows stronger the more God's Word lives in us. Our Creator made it so that our faith works much the same way our bodies work. He designed us to require daily NOURISHMENT. So, a few cups of coffee in the morning, a protein bar at lunch and dinner isn’t enough to sustain us physically. We need real food — fruits and vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates — to supply the fuel we need to carry us throughout each day.

Similarly, a diet lacking a steady intake of God’s Word doesn’t provide our faith with the NOURISHMENT and sustenance we need in facing giants of doubt, unbelief, and worry. Again, that verse in Romans says “Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” How do we hear it? We attend church and Bible studies where faith is taught. We read it. We study it and live our lives by what God's Word says. Then it becomes alive in us.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and never stop producing fruit.” True NOURISHMENT.
When we read, study and meditate on God’s Word, we become like those strong, unbendable, bountiful trees.

I notice my faith barometer drops drastically when my pursuit of God’s Word slackens. When I’m intent on not just reading God’s Word, but even memorizing scriptures, I’m able to counteract the fiery darts of the enemy when he comes barreling into my life.
It’s time to increase our daily intake of God’s Word. It will be like NOURISHMENT and medicine to our bodies, souls and spirits – and if ever we needed to be operating at full capacity, our fuel topped off for the day’s long haul, with our hearts renewed and filled with the Word of God – it’s today.

“Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

Celebrating the Cycle of Life

Day 6 of 365 Photo -- Celebrating the Cycle of Life --  Meet Emma, who I'm holding, and her friend, Max, who Lexi is holding.

Events in the last couple of days were planned by my granddaughter, Lexi, whose goal is to attend her Dad's alma mater, Texas A&M, one day.  And, she plans to study and graduate as a veterinarian. I remember as just a baby how much she loved animals and had no fear around them.  She's been an equestrian horse rider and she LOVES her little 6 pound Yorkie, Emma.  Two days ago we went to the Vet to get Emma checked out to be sure she would be okay to have another litter of puppies, and, indeed, she got a clean bill of health.  So yesterday, I had the joy of being with Lexi and Denise Gerrich  to take Emma to be with her mate, "Max".

Max is a 4 pound darling Yorkie.  It was love at first sight, and the rest I'll leave to the imagination.  But I watched my granddaughter, who is quite typically a laugh-a-minute comedian, be poised, supportive, involved, and listened to Max's very knowledgeable owner explain, in detail, the process of breeding.  She has been breeding Yorkies for many years.

I'm so thrilled I "seized the moment" for this beautiful experience.   I was amazed as I saw my granddaughter go from her usual quirky and hilarious self, to a very mature, logical and tender pet owner (responsible and caring).  I was witnessing, first hand, the cycle of life -- in my granddaughter and her little Yorkie:  birth, growth, maturity.   I saw God's cycle of life for creatures and us -- in such a profound way.  It made me think once again about the magnitude of His genius.  He created fish, reptiles and birds to be born alive or hatched from eggs.  And I thought about the WOW  animals (like a butterly) that they go to bed looking one way and wake up a different creature. And I thought about animals....and US.

God is such an AWESOME God, and the more I get to know about Him, the more He astounds me.   The more I study His ways, absorb His presence into my very being.....He shows up in my world and keeps giving me  "AHA" moments like I had yesterday.  I urge you to go to that place as often as you can -- you don't need headphones, a trip to some exclusive paradise location, a yoga experience, a church or synogogue to find Him. You'll find Him, like I do, in MOMENTS -- those moments when we open our eyes and heart to His wonders all around us.  #SeizeTheMoment #AwesomeGod