YES -- Count Me In!

Yesterday I received an email asking me to be a "welcomer" at a 3-day Mission at my church this week. I'll admit I had thoughts of saying "No", because it meant I had to be at church an hour early each night and because I would just have returned home from Tulsa and, and, and (What other excuses could I think of?), but then I remembered what a YES means. I responded to that email: "YES. Count me in!"

My word for today is YES: an affirmative response; absolutely, agreed, okay, okey-dokey, absolutely, indeed, affirmative

There were many times when I was reluctant to say “Yes” to something or someone for fear it may cost me way too much in time, commitment, energy and strength. Maybe you’re right there, right now. Are you struggling with a “yes”? I was. I was just a youngster when my church’s youth choir leader asked me to sing a solo. With trepidation, I struggled with the response, but I said “yes”. When I was a little older and attending my future father-in-law’s church where he was the pastor, he asked me to play the piano for the worship service. Still I struggled with that “yes”, but, afraid, I said “yes” and I played on for years. My future mother-in-law asked me to play the lead role in a Christmas play as well as to play the piano for the church's worship service. My YES in those "younger years" took me out of my comfort zone.

The President at First City Bank on OK City urged me to get my securities brokers license so I could be a branch manager at a new branch that was being built. And another employer asked me to be the Assistant Director in Communications at the University of Manitoba. And my husband pushed me to get my airplane pilot's license, as well as my Real Estate Broker’s license. To every one of those “asks”, eventually, and sometimes, with apprehension and nerves peaking the highest levels possible, I did say “YES” and every time, I became more confident, more determined, more courageous, more accomplished, and more victorious over my anxieties and fears.

God wouldn’t have held a “NO” against me, but that “NO” would have continued to create inferiority and regret within me. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Christ we can say “Amen,” to the glory of God.“ Of course this verse is talking about our YES to those times when we are challenged in our faith. God looks at us to take that step of faith because he knows that we know we can accomplish ALL THINGS, through Christ Who strengthens us.” Philippians 4:13.

YES, it depends on the question being asked. A “no” to some questions is needed, but to those questions that stretch our faith and confidence, we should be bold enough to say “YES”. God is looking at us to take that step of faith. What does saying “Yes” look like for you. Maybe, it’s “Yes, I’ll forgive.” “Yes, I’ll trust you.” “Yes, I’ll share God’s love with others.” “Yes, I’ll volunteer for that charity.” “Yes, I’ll join that Bible study group.” “Yes, I’ll lead that Mom’s Group.” “Yes, God, I’ll open my eyes to your supernatural doors of opportunity today.”

Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” People and time and fear and nerves will keep us from our YES. It’s not our ability, but God’s ability in us that gives us the boldness and the courage to say YES!

Think about the YES of Noah. His family was spared. What about the YES of Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Her YES, her unwavering faith and her cooperation with the Holy Spirit, gave us the Messiah. Just think about what your “Yes” could produce!

I'll say yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way.
I'll say yes, Lord, yes. I will trust you and obey.
When your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree,
And my answer will be YES, Lord, YES!

My 2018......and Beyond -- Resolutions

My Word of the Day is Resolution: a firm determination to do something, and not change it. Doesn’t that make sense? Maybe that’s why so many fail at "resolutions". We want a short term fix. A goal has an end date. A resolution is unending.

One of my "goals" with an end date of on or before December 31, 2018, was inspired by a book given to me by my grandson and his wife, “My Grandma: In Her Own Words”. It is a “fill-in-the-blanks" book that asks questions like “What was your home like growing up?” “What was it like to become a mother?” That book inspired me to write my autobiography this year – not for publishing, but to pass on to my family as legacy.

Typical new year's resolutions are actually goals. “Lose 20 pounds”. We get there and we check it off the list – “I made it!” We run that marathon. Check. We get our real estate license. Check. We attend that 6-week Bible Study. Check.

Resolutions are supposed to be a FIRM determination to do something – not with a set end-date, but a lifetime in mind. I've made resolutions that I expect will take me the distance beyond 2018 and for the rest of my life. Here’s a list I’ve started, but I expect to add to it as I press daily to be my best for God.

#1. I RESOLVE to worry less and pray more. I will give my concerns to God. I will pray I become so infused with God's Word that I have the fuel to be a woman of “true grit” – rather, true faith in God’s “keeping power” and trust in His timing, His love for me and His desire for my success.

#2. I RESOLVE to disconnect my mind from my mouth. At this mature age, I’ve amassed a great deal of wisdom. My brain is packed full of firsthand experience of doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and I want to save my children, grandchildren and others -- time and energy. But, I RESOLVE to hold my mouth from unsolicited advice, opinions and/or judgments.

#3. I RESOLVE to give 100% focus and attention to my family and friends when I’m in their presence. That means putting away my phone and computer and look in their eyes and listen, full on, like they are the single most valuable and treasured, important persons in my world….because THEY ARE!

#4. I RESOLVE to introduce others to my best friend. Of course my best friend is Jesus. A best friend is someone we talk about a lot. We imitate our best friend. We tell stories about our best friend. I want my best friend to be their best friend. I'll share Him with them every chance I get. I'll teach them a lot about "What would Jesus do? (WWJD).

#5. I RESOLVE to be a “HOPE” dealer by encouraging others with “Nothing is impossible with God!” I RESOLVE to spreading sunshine instead of dark clouds. Hope is great expectation that something GOOD is about to happen. “Let us hold fast to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

These are RESOLUTIONS that will not only set the course for my day, and year….but my entire life. What about you? Did you make New Year’s Resolutions, or LIFETIME Resolutions?