Awareness of God is Possible 24/7

Being in Mexico with my kids for the last several days was a delight -- incredible food, birthday celebrations, playing in the surf on boogie boards, laying out on the beach under umbrellas (this very white girl stays covered for the most part), parasailing (you better believe this spring chicken didn't miss out on that thrill), jet ski riding (Brennan was the driver -- I held on tight to him shouting "Ride 'em cowboy" for which he shouted "Nana, you're like a 30-year old!" LOL! I'll take that. It really was a little piece of heaven on earth to spend such precious time with my family.

Flying home yesterday, I realized I had been out of sync with my normal prayer routines. That's okay, because I know I was in the moments of celebrating God's precious gift of family so, as a matter of fact, when we where speaking about God's blessings, about the beauty of His creation, about the love our family has for each other, about finding Braden's wedding ring that was temporarily lost in the ocean only to be found by a worker two days later, about the family times of prayer offering thanksgiving around the meal tables -- we were still in a prayer rhythm. I get that. When we're in love with the SOMEONE Who represents all of these blessings, we stay on a frequency of awareness of Him 24/7.

My flight from Zihuatanejo to Mexico City got me back into my prayer routine/rhythm. You see, for me, rather than setting specific times to pray, I do my best to lean into God throughout my day -- acknowledging Him and His love for me, so it's not surprising when He sets me up with divine appointments. Seems He surprises me quite often with special encounters -- only He could orchestrate. When I headed to my window seat on the airplane, a Mexican man in the aisle seat asked his wife on the other aisle seat to trade with him. She quickly told me he doesn't speak English and because she does, he thought it would be a good idea for her to sit by me. She was very conversational and asked about our vacation -- the usual "talk" between two tourists. When the talking subsided, I got out my devotional book and started to read, and then I started taking notes. She asked if I was a minister. I told her, if that means "Am I someone who loves to talk about God's love and faithfulness wherever I go, then "Yes, I'm a minister." She said she knew that by the way I talked -- and I had only used phrases like "so blessed", "so thankful", "beauty of God's creation". I loved that. She asked me to pray for her, and I didn't say, "Yes, I will." I said, "Let's pray now." After I prayed for her, her family, her heart's desire and for her to come to know Christ in a real and personal way, she prayed for me. Her prayer was that my life would continue to inspire people like I inspired her.

I share this sweet home-bound moment with you, my FB friends today, to let you know that God is looking for messengers who sincerely believe we are on assignment at this time, on this earth, to get involved with His plans and purposes.

Once upon a time, I felt pressured to share my faith. Now, it's a part of being in the moment, being relaxed and waiting for the obvious moment -- an open door -- to be a light -- His light to others. What if flights became God's meeting place for divine appointments? What if a grocery line, a doctor's waiting room, a nail or hair appointment became meeting places for divine appointments?

Did you know that we have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's prayer daily by simply staying aware of God's little nudges -- and being His voice and His hands extended to a hurting world that needs His love and peace?

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8.

Celebrating the Gift of Life

Round and rround she goes, where she stops nobody knows. That's me that I'm talking about. On the road again....in the air again. Yesterday I travelled to Mexico to be a part of sweet family celebrations for my son's 50th birthday. This milestone birthday would seem to big enough to invite the Who's Who folks from far and wide, but I love that my son wanted to have just his immediate family, and thankfully, ME, for a quiet, yet momentous time together of celebrating what's and who's most important to him. If there's anything I know from turning 50, I know it is a "reset" time. when we have the experience and good judgement to know about ourselves and we start to look at the ending of our life from this side -- so gauging our desires and our strengths, we get to adjust, balance and alter any areas that need altering. It's a time of marvels on every hand and great richness and beauty, because our eyes seem to open to the preciousness of where we've come from to where we're going. The length of our days don't seem near as important as the quality of the days and who we're with in those days. I remember 50, and it was great, but a little secret I have for those yet to get there, 60 is even sweeter!

We're already having precious times of reminiscing, and as any youngster would do to their dad at occasions like this -- Ryan is hearing a few over the hill jokes, with a whole lotta' a lot love thrown in. I'm so grateful to be here for this milestone celebration. Today is his birthday eve (tomorrow is the big day -- the 24th). I'll talk more about this birthday man tomorrow, but he already knows how celebrated he is -- with signs around the hotel and 50 red roses in their room and enjoying his favorite food of choice EVER -- Mexican!! Shawntel hasn't missed a thing in giving Ryan an over-the-top celebration of the gift of his life. So many surprises await him.

Here's what "beyond 50 and more" means to me. Life really is a great adventure when you turn life over to the One Who created it. Not to miss out on any assignment He has for me, I watch, chat, ask questions, and listen for strategic divine appointments along the way. Two young Mexican men -- one beside me on my flight to Mexico City and one who drove me to the hotel happened to be "my assignment" for yesterday. I sometimes feel like one of Charlie's Angels asking for their next assignment. LOL! Both men probably wonder what hit them because I didn't want to miss the opportunity to share my "beyond 50 years" wisdom with them about how to make the most of life and love and how to receive God's ultimate best for them.

Both young men have girl friends and both are desiring to marry them soon, which opened up the door to ask about their faith foundation and their trust in God and being the man of God that does the right thing in loving God with all their hearts, so they can love their future wives with all their hearts.

The first young man didn't want to attend church any more because he had looked at people instead of to God. People disappointed him. People let him down. How unfortunate that God is often misjudged by His kids. Kids will disappoint. God doesn't, but still, He gets short-changed by those whose lights have diminished. Oh that we would let His light shine through us so that we make Him famous by the lives we live -- acting and looking like our Heavenly Father.

I like to think that just maybe those two young men were "divine set-ups". God needed a voice to speak His love to them, and yesterday it came in the form of a mama giving a nudge -- actually a shove to push them into the arms of God Who was waiting with arms open wide to two of His beloved sons. I like to think that just maybe their pathway will brighten -- just because someone took the time to bring light to their lives. I like to think I planted a few seeds that just might bring a harvest of blessings to them. It may have seemed I was simply on my way to celebrate my boy, when God threw in a little "divine appointment" for celebrating His life with two of His boys.

So today, Lord? I'm going to be giving thanks for my boy -- but just in case You need another messenger, my hand is raised, Lord.....choose me!