Confidence has its Rewards

According to my journal, today is the 37th day of quarantine. How time flies when we’re having so much fun! Even though there are many still in “crisis” mode because of the effects of the virus on their bodies, so many in financial straits, and others exhausted as front-liners, the end is actually in sight!

I felt it yesterday when I walked by my community’s golf course that has been closed because of the pandemic. The golfers were out in abundance. We can get our hope up – our expectors expecting! Soon we’ll be back in the routines of daily go – go! Workers will go to work. Graduates will get to have their graduation. Huggers will get to hug again. Campaigners will campaign again. Restaurants will be open for business. Parks will be full. Sports arenas and fields and entertainment parks will resume. “Open for Business” will be the norm again. But, we will never forget the pandemic of 2020.

These weeks of mandatory separation from others has given me plenty of time for spring cleaning and organizing. But, it has also been a time of reflection for me and my thoughts. Like many others, I never thought I would see anything like this in my country. I believe this will go down in history as a time the Church stood strong and saw the salvation of the Lord! We didn’t waver in our faith and belief that God is alive and well and He is still in control. We continued to pray. We continued to watch on-line church and I think the Sabbath day became what God really modeled for us in creation. That it is the Sabbath day to be kept holy as a day of rest. We have stood strong and together in unity!

I became extremely nostalgic when I was looking through my large bin of photos. The bin tipped over from the vulnerable place where I sat it. Those photos scattered all over my garage floor. I am convinced it was God’s way of having me look back at all the blessings and joys of family and friends over the years. It was my incentive to organize all those photos (hundreds, maybe thousands) and put them in organized boxes for my children and me.

This scripture came to me "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which will be greatly rewarded...” (Hebrews 10:35) Those photos reminded me of some of the “wins” we had after struggles. And, that’s what God shows us in His Word. That "confidence" scripture comes just before a long list of heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. I am always encouraged when I read about those great women and men of faith. They endured, and were rewarded. And that’s how God wants us to live – not in the past of regret and remorse, but scriptures, photos and memories that illustrate confidence, endurance AND wins!

These last few weeks have definitely been a tester of our faith. God loves us so much and He has our best interests at heart. If His power was enough to defeat sin and raise His Son from the dead, surely, He is delivering us. We have learned so many lessons about trust during these times. We placed our lives in hands. We’ve trusted Him and we will continue to trust Him in whatever and wherever our faith journey takes us. Just think about the faith muscles we’ve acquired during this time. We’ve not only endured the season – we are making it through it. Our endurance has paid off because of our genuine faith and trust in our unfailing God.

We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we might be struggling with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Oh, but, no fear, we know what lies ahead for us because our future is guaranteed by the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Making the Most of this Day

I burst out of my cocoon to fly a little today. It feels so good. I am on a mission. Get toilet paper. I have inside info. Walmart’s truck will be here at 10 am. I am in line for my one-only big package of TP and paper towels. Mission accomplished! Woohoo! Next, I go to my church’s smaller chapel to pray. Oh, the sweet peace that welcomes me. I am all by myself with Jesus. How sweet it is. Soon others join me from a distance. Notice the “social distancing” we are provided – numbered locations on the pews. I listen for God’s voice. I write in my journal what I hear. It’s His still small voice. I am in the temple like Hannah in the Bible was -- crying out to God for a son and a son was born to her. I am in the temple crying out for healing for our world. The same God who answered Hannah’s prayers, is He Who will answer our prayers too.

After prayer time, I head over to the beautiful cemetery behind my church. No problem with social distancing there. Lots of folks “in” there (literally) and no pandemic worries there! A friend told me she goes there often for a walk. And as she said, it makes for some eye-opening and heart-stirring moments for me. Many subtle reminders that this life is just temporary, so we best be making the most of every day. What takes me by surprise are the beautiful engraved stoned edifices of the mausoleums. PEACE is the theme on the four sides of one: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled. Neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” “Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing whom to thank” and “May the love of friends give you comfort. May the love of God give you peace.” How’s that for hearing from God? PEACE – that is what we need most during these times. I breathed in that peace.

Lastly, I make my way to another Walmart to buy groceries for my cousins who are a few years older than me and are staying homebound. What a delight that I can serve them. And, bonus, while I am there, I hear “Our truck has arrived. Get in line at Aisle 31. We will hand-out one toilet paper package and one paper towel package!” SCORE!

It’s been a great day because I determined it to be one. Who would have thought I would recommend a cemetery for a nice walk and inspiration? The part of that cemetery that touches me the most are the tombstones of lives once lived: Older Pop-Pop and MiMaw gravesites, young soldiers and oh, the heart tugs I see, the one-year, six-year, and 19-year old sites. God gets my attention today. I’m living with as much gusto as I can – until my body joins them there and my spirit is with God eternally.

Today holds as much mystery as it did yesterday. We don’t know what tomorrow holds no more than we know what this hour will hold. And that’s true whether the C-virus is here or not. But we do know the One Who does know. And He promises that He is right here with us. That He will not leave us or forsake us. And right here, right now, is where we are supposed to be – secure in His everlasting, unfailing love.

As I text my kids this morning and say this to them, I say it to you today: "It’s a perfect time for embracing each other. Maybe God called for this for all of us. To focus on what is most important in our lives.” I love you all so much. You are so important to me. I lift you, your loved ones and all that is important to you today to our loving Father. He sees. He knows. He cares. He has great plans for your lives. Hold on tightly to His unchanging hands. And, maybe go for a stroll in your nearby cemetery. You might find peace and inspiration waiting for you there like I did.

A Fire. A Journal. A Blessing

A few days ago, my daughter sent me this text message: “Do you know when the fire in our home was?” Of course, she could ask me that because she knows about my daily journal writing. It’s a routine that I’ve been quite consistent with for decades. I write about significant details of my day, notable happenings of my family and little nuggets from God in our time together during my devotions. Staci was asking that question because a couple who was at their church the next Sunday after the fire and heard their “victory” testimony of God’s amazing grace, asked for the date. It was a pivotal story for that couple. It touched their lives so much that they starting looking at life differently – with gratitude in the midst of chaos and disappointment.

On this day, when Staci asked about that specific horrific, yet victorious day, I was able to go right to my 2002 journal because I remembered it was when Payton was two years old and Alexia was 9 months old. We received the call that their garage and home in Prosper, TX were on fire. It was a 4-alarm fire caused by a squirrel eating through electrical wires and when they switched on their lights, it ignited the fire. Their home was unliveable because of so major damage.

We lived in Tulsa and we headed right out to retrieve the little ones. My husband and I kept them for two months while the home was being restored. That, of itself, made many pages in my journal! Over and over I’d comment how exhausted we were at the end of each day, but most precious to me were the words I wrote about how helpful Ron (Papa) was with the kiddos. It made me love him even more. One of these days – I’ll just sit, reminisce and re-read all my entries – but there’s no sitting for this gal right now. Too much to do and accomplish before “sitting days” set in!

Here’s the blessings that came out of what could have been a tragic day of monumental proportions. No one suffered physical harm. They were able to retrieve important original music and speaking tracks from Staci’s recordings, Larry’s college rings, Staci’s jewelry, her scrap books and treasured pictures. They ended up getting enough back from their insurance to do some major remodeling in the home that they had been wanting to do. Things that mattered were saved and other things were replaceable.

But here is the ultimate, best news. People were watching them and how they handled a crisis. God gave Staci a song as she sat on the curb while watching her home burning. She experienced the peace of God that passed understanding. I called her and asked her to give me those words for this blog and she sang them to me. With holy chills, I share them with you of what peace looks like in the midst of a fire or any storm:

“Thanks for the joy that You’ve given to me.
Thanks for Your love -- unconditionally.
Oh, thanks for peace in the midst of the storms.
Lord, I thank you. I thank you.
Because, You’ve been faithful, faithful to me.
Lord, You’re faithful. Your mercies I see.
And when I look back on my life,
The message is clear, You’ve been so faithful to me.”

People are watching us every day. What do we look and act like in times of crisis? How do we live our faith out loud? How do we display our faith and character when we’re pinned up against a wall? Who do we turn to in times of tribulation? I don’t know about you – but I like to think that I go to the Rock of my salvation. When all the earth around me is sinking sand, on Christ the solid Rock I stand. When I need a shelter; when I need a friend – I go to the Rock! I just couldn’t help myself. I broke into song when I was typing this! God is faithful and as we stay faith-FULL in the ups and downs of our lives – may we find the blessings in the midst of the fires, the storms, the winds and the waves -- because -- God is faithful!

Do You Feel Like Quitting -- Already?

It’s just day four of 2019 and maybe you’re already feeling like quitting before you ever really get started on your New Year's resolutions. Actually, I’m eating one more bite of salted chocolate peppermint bark (yum), inwardly saying – “Just a few more days and I’ll turn over a new health leaf! But for now, too many other things to do and get done to focus on healthy eating!” I really do plan to get back to my quiet times with the Lord in the mornings, but “This morning I need to shorten it up because I have a meeting to get to AND I want to help get my daughter’s kitchen in her new home set up!” I plan on being more active physically, but “I’ll get after it once I have this obligation and this responsibility finished!”

And, so goes the aspirations and really good intentions. Each January I’m hit with the recognition of how utterly human I am. I become an idealist, I set a goal (or ten), and then I slack off. become disappointed, and then I give up. Take my journalling, for example. I’m on point for several days and then I go for days before I come back and stretch my brain to remember those days and what God and I did together. So far, I'm on point -- but it is only Day #4!

It’s true that January can act as a clean slate. A fresh new start. A new beginning. Old things are passed away and behold, all things are brand spanking new! That’s what we love about it, isn’t it? We’re all longing to be made new. But Jesus is teaching me that, with Him, each day — each moment — is a clean slate. We don’t have to force ourselves into a rigid routine, but instead, start to recognize His gentle and loving rhythms of grace.

Honestly, this first-of-the-year push to turn over new leaves – just reminds me that I need to get to my yard and rake up all those leaves that are huddled on my front porch and bushes. I am certain that this year I will have intentional intimate times of fellowship with my Lord and He will reveal sweet nuggets of gold from His Word to me. I am also certain there will be days when there is so much on my mind that I won’t give Him my best attention and I’ll miss some of those nuggets. I also know I won’t suddenly become an avid-never-missing-a-day of work-outs in the gym. I will not get all stressed out about when I’ll get this or that done, but I will take each day and complete all I can in it. I will stop to pick up a call from a friend who needs prayer. Right. This. Minute. She doesn’t need: “I’ll be praying for you!” She needs: "Let's pray right now and seek God for His wisdom."

Tomorrow I’ll wake up and my goal will be to spend quality time with my Lord. I might even get so caught up in my time with Him, I’ll forget about my “To Do” list that can be done later or even tomorrow. Oh. Wait. Tomorrow is Sunday and hip hip hooray – I’ll not miss that opportunity to be with Him at church. I’ll meet Him there when I see my friends. I’ll meet Him there in the songs we sing. I’ll meet Him there in partaking of His body and blood that gives me nourishment and strength. Maybe Monday – I will go back to the gym and, eventually, I’ll become more absolute in the importance of my health and strength and energy. Eventually, I will be so full of God’s Word in me, that I won’t be able to contain it all and I MUST do more than my blogging to get it all out of me.

Tomorrow I’ll wake up and my goal will be to spend quality time with my Lord. I might even get so caught up in my time with Him, I’ll forget about my “To Do” list that can be done later or even tomorrow. Oh. Wait. Tomorrow is Sunday and hip hip hooray – I’ll not miss that opportunity to be with Him at church. I’ll meet Him there when I see my friends. I’ll meet Him there in the songs we sing. I’ll meet Him there in partaking of His body and blood that gives me nourishment and strength. Maybe Monday – I will go back to the gym and, eventually, I’ll become more absolute in the importance of my health and strength and energy. Eventually, I will be so full of God’s Word in me, that I won’t be able to contain it all and I MUST do more than my blogging to get it all out of me.

Eventually, maybe tomorrow, I’ll be that gal who is so on purpose that all those goals and aspirations I put out there for this year will be as rhythmic and routine in my life, as brushing my teeth. But, in the meantime, I’ll thank God for His grace in sticking with my consistency AND inconsistency. Here’s to His grace that bears with me. Here’s to today – Day Four -and here’s to tomorrow – Day Four of a year that promises to be blessed and highly favored because of God’s amazing grace!

Remembering to Write it Down

So if you hang around me at all, you’ve probably seen me pull out my small notebook and write something down. I want to remember what I heard someone say or a thought that ran through my mind. And, many times, something I heard will be the inspiration for an upcoming blog. In fact, my friend was telling me about his experience during his recent prison ministry while showing the prisoners a video of beautiful waterfalls. He remarked to me: "They were so inspired because they had never seen such a beautiful sight!" I wrote in my notebook "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" and that was the topic of a blog I wrote later. My current little notebook has "Blessed" on the cover. That's a bonus because I am reminded when I pick it up to write a note, how BLESSED I am.

I can’t tell you how many times that I DIDN’T write something down and sure wish I had. It's just too busy in this world for us to only rely on our noggin to remember it all. And to add to it, the older we get, the tendency is to forget even more -- especially important things that matter, like a birthday of a close friend, a doctor's appointment, a meeting, an important phone call, and making a grocery list to remember everything we need. We're so busy and have so much mind overload, a little notebook can "save the day" many times. I have understood the value of writing down my experiences. I've kept a journal for years, and when asked, I can refer to my journal for what happened on a particular date. And, now I go a step further, I carry a notebook with me all the time. I even keep a notepad by my bed just in case I think about something in the middle of the night that I need to remember. I also use my cell phone's calendar because, yes, this girl has a busy schedule.

Even if I wasn't a writer and blogger, I would still want to be prepared for that inspiration that comes just at the drop-of-a-hat. I don’t want to miss those moments, because I have missed some and just thought I'd remember them, but didn't! But I've wised up, even when I'm driving. My cell phone has a memo recorder on it, and now, I'll record a thought or inspiration. And, eventually, I had the subject of my post, blog or teaching just waiting for me.

So carry that notebook, put a pad and paper next to the bed, and record or jot down those inspirational moments that could be part of "your story" someday. I'm always encouraging mamas and daddies to journal those cute little stories of their kids. I promise you, you'll want to recall them someday. I know that neither you or I want to regret those unwritten, forgotten inspirations and joys.

Wouldn’t it be better to take a moment, write it down and then someday tell an incredible story on a talk show about how inspiration hit you on the 405 and BAM -- the greatest novel ever? Write that down, because when that day comes, REMEMBER it was ME that told you.....and I'll say, "You're welcome!"

Habakkuk 2:2 "Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets so that a runner can carry the correct message to others."

Let’s Meet Him at the Well

Every morning, I’m up and at ‘em by 5:30 am to look over the text of my blog one more time before I hit the “post” button. Not long after that, I send my morning “I love you” text messages to my children. I’m like clock-work with my daily deliveries – on FB, my blogger page and those text messages. I always feel like I’m “reporting for duty” each morning. And, then, it’s checking in with Heaven Central as, while it’s still dark outside, I make a cup of flavored coffee, settle into my favorite chair and, now, for the last few chilly mornings – put on my fireplace. I grab my lightweight blanket and reach for my journal and devotional. It’s my morning ritual -- my time with Him. Our time to be together.

I get to be with Jesus. What will He show me today? How will today’s walk and talk with Him affect me and those I’ve been called to encourage? I don’t want to miss a single thing in God’s Word that could make a significant difference in my day. I don’t want the distractions of the clock or my cell phone or the weight of daily assignments to pull my thoughts away from His. I’ve come to meet with Jesus -- to gather with Him for a momentary time at the “well” to take in His “living water”. It’s the same “living water” that He gave to the Samaritan woman. (John 4:4–42) That water He offered her would cause her to never thirst again. I also meet Him at the "well", and each day I am filled with joy, peace, comfort, hope, and strength. Then, like the Samaritan woman, I go and tell via my daily posts. I share with others about this Man Who not only promised her and me that He would be our everything, He also said "I am that living water. I am that Spirit. that Truth, that Way, that Life.” “Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony.

This is the Jesus that prompts me each morning to share His Good News. I like to think that I’m like that Samaritan woman as I pass along His “living water” to others, too. In those priceless moments that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the town well where she came to draw water, Jesus opened her eyes and heart to a love as she had never known before. She had a revelation of Jesus – the one who ignited a fire in her soul to go tell the townspeople about Jesus. In our special moments with God, let’s ask Him to open our hearts so wide that we long to know His love like we've never known before. Let’s yearn for a deeper understanding of His character. Let’s wake up every day saying, “Good Morning Jesus,” and embrace the desire to spend time with Him, discovering His truths, and rejoicing in His promises.

And in those quiet moments as we read through the pages of our Bible, may we pray that our eyes are opened to see Him more clearly and hear Him more distinctly. And when He does, let’s respond with a wellspring of joy and gratitude that will cause us to "go and tell" about this Man who quenched our thirst and made our spirits soar!

GOD WITH US.....All the Time

God is always with us and we often take it for granted. The Creator of you and me, and everything that was and is and is to come -- is with us. Have you had moments when you sensed Him so close? Maybe it was while you were praying or singing a song or holding a newborn baby or felt Him in a warm breeze?

Of course, there are those obvious times of sensing His presence when we have a healing take place after we were given a negative diagnosis, or our child was healed, a surprise financial windfall, or a new job that was better than we could have imagined. Then there are the unexpected blessings that we acknowledge God's hand in it, like a speech or work presentation that's unexpectedly well received, a new nutrition product that caused healing in our body, the "free" tire change, the unexpected check in the mail, the word from a friend that says "Your post today was exactly what I needed" or the book that your neighbor gave you that opened your mind to a new and better way of doing something. These are all personal stories where I knew it was God -- every time.

In all of those times, God is with us. In our Life Group, we've been talking a lot about "God in the ordinary, everyday occurrences of our lives". So much so, I encouraged the ladies to get journals to start writing down those things, those divine appointments and happenings that take place throughout the week. We talked about how God seems to be amping up His presence by all kinds of signs and wonders. It has been commonplace for us to talk about the God encounters we had during the week. Now, we're taking note of it in our journals. Doing that -- there's no way to take God for granted.

Yesterday, one of our gals sent this photo to me. It was the answer to what we've been sensing -- God being very present with us -- desiring to be real to us in our everyday facets of life. "Call to ME, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know!" Jeremiah 33:3.

Does that sound like someone who wants to withhold from His kids? NOT! It sounds like a Father who wants to give His kids those ideas, witty inventions, innovations, discernment, creativity, wisdom, knowledge and all kinds of exciting things that can rock our world. We call on Him (we acknowledge Him) and He WILL answer us AND show us GREAT and MIGHTY things we DID NOT KNOW. Just a little photo by a friend, awakened me to the possibilities that come from knowing GOD IS WITH US.

Oh, and how significant for me as I saw that grain of wheat in the photo. It was one of those "Donna, just call on Me" moments, after all that photo had my name in it -- Donna WHEAT Wuerch. When I CALL TO HIM, He calls out to me. He is WITH us and He is FOR us.