We’ve Only Just Begun to Live

That was one of our favorite songs (released in 1970) by The Carpenters. The characters in the song were a just-married couple looking forward to new horizons, new roads to choose, and so much life ahead of them. We sang that song completely unaware of what lie ahead, but naïve and child-like as we were, we just knew as long as we were together, side by side, we’d make it through each and every bump in the road that we might encounter. Seems like unrealistic thinking, but it is the only way to live – believing and always hoping for the best, but just in case the worst might come, we’d be able to handle it together. And, oh, my – the bumps did come – far beyond what two kids could ever dream, but we did handle it together – that is – together with God where we placed our hope and trust -- the ONE Who had already prepared the way for us.

We’re well into our second week of this new year and this start certainly gives us those feelings -- a certain excitement about the possibilities that are out there for us. We may reflect on the past, but no longer do we dwell there, because we certainly can’t change the past. Looking through the rearview mirror is no option. I said in a blog last week that starting the year with a clean slate and a clean calendar gives us great hope for this new year. But, the best news is – come what may – we can start a clean slate every day. Or if we make a mistake in this minute, we can start a clean slate with asking God for forgiveness and cleaning up our mess right now! Whew! How good to know! Good thing I keep plenty of clean slates on hand!

Already, just ten days in – I’ve been receiving requests for prayer from a friend’s mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday. Another request was to pray for a friend whose cancer had returned. Another request was a friend’s baby who was admitted to the hospital with breathing issues and is still there – four days later. Life happened. Bumps in the road happened. It is still the same story for each of them and each of us. We can handle this because – IN GOD we trust!

We came upon those bumps in the road, too, when we rushed our own baby boy to the hospital when he started turning blue in my arms. That was truly our first major bump in the road. I was pregnant with our daughter and had to walk down the hall when they were taking his blood. My young husband was helping them hold our crying-uncontrollably-baby down, but they called me back to help them with my husband who had fainted. Then, and now, so many years later – IN GOD, we learned to trust.

The many chapters of my/our story reveal how God allowed us to go through some of the best of times and the worst of times to “thicken our skin” aka strengthen our walk and talk of faith. God brought us through each and every time. We became anchored in our trust in God and I’m still anchored each day as I seek God with my whole heart. It’s the sure foundation for whatever may come in this day. That's the fuel to our trust -- leaning into the ONE with Whom we can put our trust in -- come what may!

Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Trusting God When It Doesn't Make Sense

Yesterday I posted about the times when we are afraid to trust. We have a host of reasons to have a problem with trusting, especially when it comes to relationships and when someone broke our hearts or when dreams crushed or when we’re let down by a sickness reoccurrence. But we have proof of those who weathered their crisis by trusting in God’s promises and Word and came out stronger than ever before. Their test became their testimony and their mess became a message that others witnessed and they, too, learned to trust.

In the joyous Christmas atmosphere with my fireplace warming me, my eyes take notice of this treasured figurine of "The Holy Family" across the room. It was a gift to us by a dear friend on the occasion of re-saying our marriage vows at Christmas. I start to ponder the unimaginable trust found in the Christmas Story. It’s a true story that boggles our minds. This true story is unparalleled in trust. God invited people from different stations in life to become a part of history. The lowly, outcast shepherds. An unmarried, innocent girl. An expectant husband-to-be. Well-educated men from another country. All of those characters had to draw upon some new level of trust and belief to become part of the “Chronicles of Bethlehem”. Each person had to rely on an inner sense of conviction. What they saw, how they reacted, and what they did, demanded an internal “knowing” that trust was the best choice, God’s choice.

Think about trust in the roles those characters played: Mary had to believe Gabriel, the angel of God when he appeared to her. She chose to say “Yes” to his message. Joseph believed that God spoke to him in a dream. Mary had to trust and rely on Joseph for leadership and direction. Joseph believed in her innocence. They leaned on one another for support as God continued to “direct their steps” (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Mary, Joseph, the Magi, and the shepherds had a choice. They believed the angelic visits. The star in the sky and the dreams were signs of God’s direction. Each of the characters believed they had a role to play and each of them relied on God's guidance. They were positioned to be a part of a miraculous and eternal story-line, and they submitted to it.

Now, here’s the “Chronicles of Dallas or Tulsa or Phoenix" or whatever town you and I are in today”, God is writing our story. Mary and Joseph only received one piece of information at a time. Still, they continued to walk in the grace and guidance that had been given to them. Trust enabled Joseph to marry Mary. Trust caused them to leave Bethlehem and travel to Egypt. They returned and lived in Nazareth. God guided. God provided.

What about our stories? Right now you might be right in the middle of trying to find your way in business, in relationships, in your health. Trust will keep you steadfast and immoveable -- not the trust found in partners in business or family and friends or even in the medical report you just received. Trust is our complete reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of God. It is simply the confidence that we place in "our all-sufficient One". Our pennies bear the quote "In God We Trust".
That is the trust of all the characters in the Christmas Story. That is the trust that God wants His children to have in Him. May we trust God implicitly, then trust our sovereign God to be in the people and in the situations of our lives.

Our Thanksgiving Week Begins

Awww.....beautiful Thanksgiving Week -- the time we really focus on God's multiplied blessings to us. Though it's the mindset we should have all year through, this week we purposely hone in on what's most important to us. I'm in "game-on" mode for all that this week will hold.

But, before I go to that high energy "Martha" mode, I have to pause this morning, in these wee hours and settle into the "Mary" mode to reflect on the beauty of what this upcoming holiday is all about. First of all, I am so grateful that America continues to set apart a day each year for giving thanks. Whew! That's a close one! Aren't we so grateful that the "radicals" that keep trying to remove the values that our country was founded upon -- prayer, Christmas, "In God We Trust" and "The 10 Commandments" and other matters that exclude our Sovereign God, haven't been successful with removing Thanksgiving? And I think it's a double blessing that most of us still believe that Thanksgiving is a day for actually giving thanks to God, not just a time for feeling vaguely thankful while loading up on turkey and pumpkin pie, watching football AND perusing all the Black Friday ads!

May we not forget the heart of Thanksgiving. In fact, it may seem like a cliche, but I believe Thanksgiving should be a part of our DNA where that spirit of gratitude is at the very core of our lives. Just being grateful to wake up in a warm bed. In fact, being grateful we WOKE UP -- considering the alternative. Grateful to be vertical -- not horizontal. And, the list could go into pages for so many other blessings we have.

Thinking about this wonderful holiday, I did a little research on how it started. On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation inviting citizens of the United States to "set apart and observe the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." His act established Thanksgiving as a national event. Thanksgiving that year was celebrated on November. 26, one week after Lincoln's trip to a small Pennsylvania town, where he memorialized the fallen in one of the Civil War's most critical and devastating battles. With bodies still lying unburied in the fields behind him, Lincoln asked the nation to "highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom." And with those words, Lincoln rewrote America's political lineage. He traced the nation's birth to the Declaration of Independence, in which Thomas Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal, instead of the Constitution, which allowed slavery to exist. During the four years of the Civil War, more than 620,000 people would die — 2% of the population. Nearly everyone who survived the war was touched by it in some way.

Even amid such profound sorrow, Lincoln found the reason to give thanks. It all bears repeating, but for the sake of space here, I simply offer the last paragraph. We might ask this question: "What would happen if an American President used this kind of language again in an official proclamation? How could the tide change for our country if our nation turned its heart toward God again?

President Lincoln finishes his proclamation with: "I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1863."

Happy Thanksgiving, my precious FB friends!
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD....." Psalm 33:12

I'm Making My Declaration of DEPENDENCE

DEPENDENCE: depending on or relying on others for support
INDEPENDENCE: not depending on or relying on others

We live in a culture that teaches us that it is possible, and in fact preferable to be “INDEPENDENT”… free from responsibility, accountability, and from moral and Godly values. A Declaration of Dependence makes an inspired biblical-based case that the opposite is true. Today I'm making my own definitive declaration that I am in fact “DEPENDENT” on God for everything of real value…my personal, material, physical, and spiritual well being.

We start with dependency on our parents for our daily needs. But, deep inside is that “independent” spirit that starts to demand its own way. Just watch a two-year old be possessive of his stuff and say “MINE” or they pull their hand out of our grasp because they want to be INDEPENDENT of our hold on them. Where do they learn that? Surely, we parents don’t act that way or do we?

As we continue to mature, we become more independent. I grew up dependent on my parents and then on my husband and when he graduated to heaven, I became INDEPENDENT. I only had me to take care of me now. My survival instincts kicked in, with a “CAN DO” mentality. Some of my friends are in awe as I drive alone for hours to get to my next destination. My friend called me a few days ago and I was getting my car serviced for my next trip. She said, “Oh, my husband is doing that right now, too.” I laughed and said, “See, if my husband were still here, he’d be doing this for me too. Welcome to my world!"

I like to pay my own way, live in my own home, make my own decisions, rely on no outside help. And, I’ve learned that if I face an unexpected DIY challenge, I just go to my dear friend, Mr. Google, and I get all the help I need from him. Believe me, he is very worthy of my praise. I can’t begin to tell you how many challenges he has helped me solve.

INDEPENDENCE is a blessing when it comes to domination from another country (i.e. the reason for our Country's Declaration of INDEPENDENCE). But when our Country AND we start to be INDEPENDENT of God and our trust in Him, then "Hello, Trouble!" It is trouble and struggle when my heart’s attitude is “I can do ALL things through ME who can do anything on my own” instead of the attitude that is most desirable to God, “I can do all things through CHRIST Who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). He wants us to be DEPENDENT on His all sufficiency. It’s what Jesus told His disciples: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The fact is, we should never outgrow our dependence and our trust in God, and daily we should be making our Declaration of Dependence on Him Who made us and holds us in the palms of His mighty hands.

I often feel closest to God during times of weakness because I come to depend on Him more. I have a yearning in my heart for Him to transform every nook and cranny of my life. I want Him to be my all-consuming thought, desire and passion. Isaiah 30:15 says “This is what the Almighty LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting Me.”

Maybe someone reading this today is in a world of confusion and you want to independently take care of the challenges you face. Then this post is for you. Maybe you're feeling physically and mentality spent -- completely exhausted. Could THIS message be heaven-sent to you today? Could God be urging you to STOP for just a while to declare "In God I Trust" and DEPEND on Him?

Let's make our Declaration of DEPENDENCE on God and His wisdom for our lives. I'm convinced that grabbing hold of His mighty hand and DEPENDING on Him, will lead us where we need to go and what we need to do. He's our good, good Father and surely, Father knows best!

I'm Trusting in the Lord With All My Heart!

When I lived in Tulsa and headed up a Life Group in my home, I bought several of these little plates to give to the gals on their birthday. I'd add some yummy treats to the gift, but the words from Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" was the most important part of the gift. I had one plate left and when I was getting a plate for my scrambled eggs yesterday morning, I randomly pulled that one out. I took the message to heart. I knew God was giving me the nudge I needed. When I got in my car, on the seat was this penny. I embraced the message that God was wanting me to get. He knows me so well.

When I have these encounters, I don't take them lightly. I consider them divine, coming straight from "Heaven Central". If there's anything about my childhood that I treasure the most, it was my upbringing in a church and family that taught me the importance of memorizing scriptures. I can't begin to tell you how many times when I was in a situation that I needed a quick word of encouragement and support, and I would recollect God's Word that I had stored in my heart. “Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.” (Proverbs 7:2)

Jesus wasn't at all random with getting His point across to those who followed Him and needed an encouraging word. He used fish, a bird, a well, water, bread, salt, a candle, etc. My faith tells me God was intentional with those words to me yesterday just as much as He used object lessons with those He taught as He walked this earth.

I'll admit I've been in a season of wondering while I was wandering. I wondered what my future would hold, who my friends would be, when and what my ministry in this season would look like, and how I can best make use of the time I have remaining on this earth. Then right in the midst of my wondering about the what, who, when, and how.....a simple plate and a penny told me, AGAIN, to simply TRUST in God. The rest of that Proverbs 3:5 says "and lean not to your own understanding". My mind says "You need to figure this out" but God says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL your ways, acknowledge HIM and He will direct your steps."

Once again, God got the last word....and His words are always the "word in season" that gives us the assurance that He's got this so all we have to do is to TRUST! Has He given you one of His object lessons recently? I'd love to hear it!

In God We Trust

Psalm 91 has been my Psalm to live by for many years. It's my 911 call for daily help for protection for my loved ones and myself. The whole chapter is about "In God We Trust". Those words took on a whole new meaning when I heard a former paratrooper, now a pastor, speak yesterday about the trust it takes to be a paratrooper. He read from Psalm 91, which is considered "The Soldier's Psalm". He shared this story.

Almost 100 years ago, during World War I, the 91st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army was preparing to enter combat in Europe. Because their commander was a devout Christian, he assembled his men and gave each of them a little card on which was printed the 91st Psalm, the same number Psalm as their brigade. They agreed to recite that Psalm daily. After they had begun praying the Psalm, the 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of World War I. Other American units that fought in the same battles had up to 90 percent casualties, but the 91st Brigade did not suffer a single combat-related casualty.

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers; and you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield."

The pastor went on to show a video of paratroopers jumping out of an airplane and he said: "As you watch this video, think about how many things you must trust in to be a paratrooper." Right away, I thought, "your parachute", but, oh, as explained by the pastor, there's so much more: The pilot....trusting he is sober and competent; the navigator....trusting you don't get released over a swamp; the crew chief...that he knows his aircraft inside and out; the jumpmaster...who gives accurate instructions to the jumpers; the rigger....who packs, maintains and repairs the parachutes; the jumper in front of you and behind you...who you check their rigging and they check yours.

Clearly "in God we trust", but the fact is, shouldn't we be those who others say "In Bob I trust", "In Donna I trust", etc.? As God-followers, wouldn't it be prudent for us to follow His example and be dependable, honorable, devoted and faithful people, and prove our trustworthiness.....like the many that a paratrooper must depend on? This final photo I came across as I was searching paratrooper images for this post. It speaks volumes about how others view our trustworthiness, and the ability to affirm "In God I trust and in you I trust!"

Rose & Marci aka Thelma & Louise aka Lucy & Ethel

Early yesterday morning, a few of us in my community sent off two of our neighbors to California. They're driving in Rose's truck and will be staying, nightly, in their new cozy travel trailer. These two fun-loving widows, who met here in Hyde Park two-plus years ago, have become best of friends. A 3-week journey that these two women, with hearts for adventure, will no doubt blaze an action-packed trail . The one man that got up to join our little farewell to them said, "I wouldn't consider doing that with another man, never mind two women venturing off like that!" But these are women who live with the understanding "We have one life to live and why not live it with gusto?" I love that, and I'm really happy they're travelling via a truck and trailer versus the motorcycles that they once considered. LOL!

We sent them off with our best wishes and prayers for them. When they pulled away, underneath one of the trailer's tires was a penny. We all know what that means....."In God We Trust". My friend and I continued to walk around our community after they left and we were thrilled at the skies that seemed to offer God's light shining on us and them. "In God We Trust" on a penny, and brilliant skies -- a coincidence or a recognition of God's smile on them and us?

Why shouldn't we live with audacious living -- leaving nothing on the table when we're done? Why shouldn't we look for God's little (or big) messages, even in the "practical" of our lives? Don't we, as parents, put little notes to our kids in lunchboxes or send them text messages, or leave love notes to them on tables?

Just maybe, our Dad, our Heavenly Father, is trying to tell us something. I experienced that last week when I knew I was at the right place at the right time, but only because of little delays that made me get there perfectly ON TIME.

Perhaps this little FB post today is God reaching out to you to give you a message. Maybe it's a message that's been communicated through multiple people, or little signs, or interruptions, or encounters.

It can be tempting to ignore messages we don't want to hear, or to take for granted the positive messages that come through people or events. But it's important to be open to messages that may be a "Don't do that" warning or maybe its a nudge "Get ready" or it may be an encouragement - "You're on the right path." Whatever the message, our job is to watch, look and listen. Often, things that happen are not simply a coincidence. Maybe, it's a penny or a cloudy sky with sunshine peeking through -- whatever or whoever -- remember.....God is always speaking....are we always listening?

John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

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.

I Know WHO Holds Tomorrow

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know WHO holds tomorrow!

This world we live in seems like it is on a downward spiral, but, we don't have to fear or be concerned because, if we listen to the candidates, each one declares they'll be able to fix all that's wrong with it when they become the next President of the United States. They say they'll fix the economy, solve the issues on gun control, war and peace, immigration, provide the most elite homeland security, etc. etc. etc. With all this political rhetoric, it makes us wonder "What will tomorrow hold if THAT person IS elected President?"

I am so happy that my peace, well-being and hope for tomorrow doesn't depend on what a man or woman promises in some political arena and, if elected, what my life will become. Here's what I do know and here's what I'm staking my life upon. I believe God's ways are so much higher than ours and His sovereign plans and purposes will be carried out. If we are people who live by faith, we will just keep overcoming because we know that God is in control -- no matter "the who" is in the White House.

Instead of being in that "I'm-so-worried-about-what-our-future-holds mode", how about us looking at a penny and stand by those words engraved on it that say "In God We Trust"?

This morning, another gorgeous day in the Great Northwest, I couldn't resist taking this photo of the flag standing tall on the shore of Lake Washington. I had a vivid picture in my mind -- "THIS FLAG stands for freedom and I'm proud to be an American where I know I am free, and I won't forget the men and women who have died who gave that right to me. And I'll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today, cause' there ain't no doubt, I love this land, God bless the USA!" And as much as I love that song sung by Lee Greenwood, more than my beloved American flag, the cross of Jesus Christ is my statute of liberty. In GOD I Trust! With Him, my future is secure.

One Nation UNDER GOD!

Day 232 of Photo Inspirations -- One Nation UNDER GOD
Aw!  The 50s...Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, I Love Lucy, Ozzie & Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best, Poodle Skirts, Hula Hoops!!!

What a great, Be-Bop-A-Lula time we had Saturday night -- celebrating the Sock Hop days of the 50s at my community, Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills.  I did my best  "Olivia Newton John" impersonation from Grease.  As one of the hosts of the event, it was such a treat to research some of the 50s memories, like those I mentioned above, in black and white TV, "Name That Tune" show (we played it at our party), hula hooping (I won that one! LOL!), bubble gum blowing contest, etc.  I am a Baby Boomer, one of the record number of babies (3.4 million) born in the U.S. (must have been a lot of cold nights -- LOL!).  

Goodness -- have times ever changed the way of doing things since then.  Compared to today, it's a wonder we survived those days, and are even here to tell the story!  My fellow 50s generation will recall that, as toddlers, no car seats, instead, we stood by our parents and what stopped us from being thrown into the windshield when they stopped the car quickly, was their automatic arm.  We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles.  When we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or even shoes.  We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.  We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!   We didn't have video games, no 99+ channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, BUT.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!  

Lots of blast-from-the-past memories, but I wouldn't trade those days for these days for anything -- particularly when it comes to child safety in cars and otherwise, and brilliant technology that makes life so much easier. There's just no sense living in the past and thinking about the way things were. There's just too much to celebrate about the way things ARE, and that God intended us to be here and be fully engaged AT THIS TIME.

But there's also paramount things that should NEVER be changed.  One of the most critically important decisions that was made in 1954 was the addition of "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.  And in 1957, our currency was printed with "In God We Trust" words on it.

Yesterday, my FB post was about those words: "In God We Trust".   Yes, there are those who want to stamp out God from our schools and public places. But, here's the deal -- emperors have tried to destroy those words, philosophies have tried to stamp them out, tyrants have tried to wash them from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it, yet, it still stands. "In God We Trust" is still our non-negotiable.  It is indelibly printed in our hearts, our spirits and our minds.  Now, let's pray that our nation NEVER concedes to letting it go.  

"Blessed is the Nation is "whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12



Psalm 100:5;  'For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness TO ALL GENERATIONS."

Seeing God in the Ordinary

Day 231 of Photo Inspirations -- Seeing God in the Ordinary

Yesterday, at an advisory board meeting at church, we were praying and seeking God on some important matters -- desiring wisdom and understanding on the direction He would be guiding us to go.  One of the ladies left the room for a few minutes and said  "I just went down the hall and when I returned, I found this $20 in the hallway!"  Great find!  We agreed to give it to the Pastor tomorrow.

But, as I was sitting there, I sensed there was a greater message in finding that $20.  I held it up and showed them the side that said, "In God We Trust".  Perhaps God was ADVISING this Advisory Board to TRUST HIM in everything we're seeking Him for.  I love that.  We seek God with our hearts and minds, but He's not hiding.    Our EXTRAORDINARY God is right there with us......in the ORDINARY of life.  Finding this $20 bill was more than a donation to the church......just maybe it was God sending us the message "TRUST ME"!!  And when ORDINARY people trust God with their whole hearts, He will do EXTRAORDINARY things through us and for us!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:13

Customer Service ROCKS!

Day 208 of Photo Inspirations -- Customer Service ROCKS!!!
Day before yesterday I arrived safely back home in Tulsa on my Southwest Airlines flight -- all was well, except one of my bags didn't arrive.  I routinely completed the missing bag report and was assured that my bag would probably be in on the next flight from Chicago.  Southwest has been my airline of choice for a long time.  I'm a fan because:

1)  I always find a better airfare with them when I book 14 days out.
2)  Their seating style is great -- you get to choose where you want to sit (in order of your check-in).
3)  Two bags can be checked in for free.
4)  FREE inflight TV and music
5)  Hilarious, singing flight attendants.  And the rest of their personnel are friendly and courteous.  
6)  You still get free peanuts and pretzels.
7)  There's NO First Class Seating -- you can go to whichever washroom you want.
8)   Their flights are on time.....most of the time.
9)    I had to make changes on my return flight from Seattle -- no upcharge to change.

No, this isn't a ploy to get you to fly with Southwest  It's a simple "give credit where credit is due".

THEN -- the unthinkable happened.  Since there are two bags FREE, I reasoned it would be a good idea to check in all those things that I typically put in my carry-on, and this time, it included my computer -- the computer that has all my graphics, photos, business contracts, and extremely important documents in it.  So WHAT was I thinking?  Perhaps, this was the Good Ship Lollipop? Actually, as one representative said, "The bag was probably held up in Security because of the computer" -- it probably wasn't a SWA issue, but a mistake on my part.

So what do I do when a crisis like this takes place?  I go to the phone AND the throne.  I texted my prayer walking friends to pray with me for protection and safe return of my luggage AND my computer.  They did.  I did.   Throughout the day I would thank God for the safe return of my belongings, and then call to see if they had word.  Each time....no word.

Then while I was at a women's meeting last night, Cindy from Southwest called to tell me my bag had arrived in Tulsa. She was the one I filed the original report with.  She was so kind and accommodating and apologized (even though it sure wasn't her fault). I gave her thanks and to God and my angels for the blessing.   When I told the women at the meeting about my answer to prayer, one lady said, "I'll bet your computer won't be in it!"   I assured her that my trust was in God.    After the meeting, I headed to the airport and as I walked to the door, I noticed this penny on the ground.  I never miss picking up pennies.  You see, on the penny is "In God We Trust" -- and I'm always reminded, that it is HE that I trust in for the big AND small things.  He is so faithful to me.  At the Southwest baggage office, there was this smiling, sweet lady with my bag by her side.....as well as an envelope.  The envelope contained a Southwest $50 voucher in it.

So now I've added another point about Southwest being so great:  10)  They apologize profusely for the luggage delay and they back up their apology with a voucher for your trouble......even though it may not even be their fault.

Customer service and customer satisfaction is BIG on my list.  Being a people person and  I've been in sales and marketing for many years, I notice genuine care and concern for customers.  This experience with Southwest gave me hope for other companies and businesses to become "customer-friendly and customer-focused", too.  But, the greatest part of this experience was, once again to take life in stride.  Stuff happens and when it does.....SHIFT the focus off of the stress, concern and worry by picking up a penny, reading IN GOD WE TRUST....and REALLY trust Him for the outcome.  "All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purposes."  Romans 8:28.  That $50 voucher showed me how trusting in Him reaps great rewards.  Thanks, God!  Thanks, SWA!
#SouthwestAirlines #CustomerService #TypingOnMyAwesomeComputer