You Are Always On My Mind

Do you remember that feeling when you first met your sweetheart and you couldn’t get him or her out of your mind? That’s all I thought about – morning, noon and night – that cute, black haired, brown eyed boy stole my heart AND my mind!

This year I found that the principal thing is the simplest thing -- noticing, purposing to be aware of God everywhere, recognizing the beauty in His creation, in the talents and abilities of His kids, savoring the everyday realities of His grace that are so abundant. Willie Nelson recorded the song, "You Are Always On My Mind", and that has been my love song to God this year. In being "tuned in" to Him and being grateful for the simple yet obvious "God" encounters in my day, He has been on my mind...a LOT!

I sincerely want to continue that awareness of Him and having Him on my mind. "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Me." Isaiah 26:3. But, I also know the struggle it is to stay "in the moment". It's just so easy to be distracted from the very things He wants to show me.

And that’s what Christmas has been about — finding Him in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the interruptions and distractions. No question, He is everywhere, but the simplest, purest, most humble and less grandiose place we'll find Him, is still -- in the manger. Wouldn't it make sense that we, too, will find him in some of the least expected places of our life? Perhaps in the homeless man on the street corner, a newborn baby, the hug from a friend, the "My pleasure" from the Chick-Fil-A cashier, in the "answered prayer" story of a friend, or simply, the cross hanging from someone's neck?

This is still His Christmas. Remember the chaotic, stinky, messiness of Jesus' birthplace? That's where we'll find Him in our world too. We'd love to be distraction-less and have ongoing sweet, encounters with Him....but, it just doesn't matter. He meets us where we are -- in our busyness AND in our stillness. He is there. God is always there waiting for us. When we're "practicing His presence" we'll find Him embracing us, giving us aha moments, seeing Him everywhere and in everything.

And if going to the stable and the manger in our minds is too much of a stretch.....after all, it really is quite stinky and messy there.....then we can go to the foot of the cross where He paid the ultimate price for you and me. We were on His mind from the manger to the cross. We are ALWAYS on His mind. Shouldn't He ALWAYS be on our mind?

God is Really, Really With Us

I've become an avid "noticer". A noticer is one who observes, notices, and pays attention to details -- not one like my husband who would notice and identify flaws in home construction or a musical composition and performance (just ask my Staci about how he "noticed" everything -- like the sound quality, her word pronunciation, or the tempo of the music). I became a "noticer" when I became a Technical Writer and Editor for various publications, but mostly of late I've become a "noticer of the most important things like one who recognizes God's nudges as well as His touches in the mainstream of life that point me in the direction I should go or tell me what to say. I've sure been a noticer during this season of Advent and Christmas. That word seems to be encased in the traditions of Christmas.

I’ve noticed the words I wrote under some of my Christmas treasures that were purchased to “remember” special times. I noticed my family in the many Christmas pictures I’ve scattered throughout my home. Because of my precious mother-in-law’s distribution of so many of her treasures to me and others, I’ve prominently placed mine where I see them every day. I notice them. I notice words in scriptures that I never noticed before. I'm in good company with my “noticing”. The shepherds were noticers of the angels who broke the news of their Savior's birth. The Wise Men were noticers of the star that led them to the Christ Child. And, Mary was a noticer and ponderer. Luke 2:19 says (after the shepherds departed): "And Mary pondered (noticed) these things in her heart." I like that -- and I desire to follow Mary's lead, as well as the shepherds and Wise Men – to notice and ponder.

I like to think that noticing is a part of seeing, hearing and sensing God WITH US. Don’t you love the word “with”? As I wrote that first paragraph, I sensed my husband “WITH” me when I remembered His noticing. I remembered His many hours of coaching our daughter with her music and performances. “WITH” is a powerful word. “Will you go WITH me?” “Stay WITH me.” Here’s the greatest news that Christmas brought us. It brought us God in human flesh. Isaiah 7:14 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (God with us). GOD WITH US!! In Matthew 28:20 the man, Jesus, said before He ascended into heaven, “Surely I am WITH you always, to the very end of the age." There were no caveats when He spoke those words. He didn’t say, “If you do this or that, I’ll be with you.” “If you go to church or if you give to the poor, I’ll be with you.” No, none of that. There are no requirements given to us. He is with us. God is with us.

So, in my pondering and noticing and remembering……I realize GOD IS WITH ME. In our times of fear, stress or worry – God is with us. In times of feeling lonely or forsaken, we must not forget – God Who Knows all, sees all and even felt all -- is with us. We’re not alone. When we understand and respect that Emmanuel is with us, then even the thoughts we think are what God is wanting us to think, ponder and notice. Maybe they are just not random thoughts but bulls-eye-target thoughts where we are to be God’s representative to our world. We can be on purpose to be aware that God is with us and in us to be His "light" representative. That means as His representative we convey His attitude, actions, and character in and through our lives. God gave us more than miracles and messages. He sent Himself; He sent His Son. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14. He wants us to NOTICE that He really is WITH US and be bold as His ambassadors to tell the world "God is with us"!

Candy Corn, Peanuts, Pumpkin Spice Coffee and Gratitude

Can you feel it? Whether we’re pulling out our sweaters or still running our air conditioner at full blast, autumn is undeniably here. Hobby Lobby and Michael’s have had their shelves stocked with Fall decorations for months, and now shoppers are setting the Fall atmosphere in their homes with those scarecrows, pumpkins, and décor’.

Fall has definitely arrived -- even here in Austin, TX. As I was sitting on the patio of my children’s home, I couldn't help but notice the flocks of various species of birds flying south. They know winter isn't far behind, but based on the minimal change of foliage color here (note the U.S. map of foliage changes – minimal in South Texas), you wouldn’t begin to think winter was getting close.

Fall is in our hearts as many of us have that decor' all around us and my youngest grandsons and I carved pumpkins and set them outside with all the rest of the Fall outdoor décor. By the way, you must try the delicious combination of candy corn and salted dry roasted peanuts (pictured here) that seem to call my name every time I walk by them.

No doubt, this is my favorite time of the year – the smells, the tastes and the sights. I’ve been enjoying the pumpkin spice coffee for a quiet moment on the patio in the morning. I’ve been seeing many photos of my Facebook friends having fun times at pumpkin patches. I love the apple and pumpkin candles that fill the house with Fall aromas.

What I love the most about this season, is the heart of thanksgiving that just naturally comes. And, great things happen when we offer thanksgiving. It not only brings honor to God when we speak of His goodness, but our faith just seems to rise to new heights because that attitude of gratitude that opens shut doors and brings joy to our hearts and souls!

The changing colors of leaves, birds changing their habitats, and Donna changing hers.....it's all about accepting the inevitable in life. We will all experience many changes. We should expect changes -- it's that part of life that we CAN'T change. Since “change” is inevitable, we might as well accept the changes with the grace that God gives us....and be thankful that He will carry us through those changes -- to an even better place of destiny and purpose.

The secret to gratitude isn’t a matter of willpower — it’s noticing. Looking up from sorting our laundry, or our computer, or our phones, and noticing what’s around us. Whether it's the changing leaves of Fall or the goodness of God in a hard season of life ... there's a path toward gratitude. Maybe that path leads to the brightest light we could ever imagine – and with that LIGHT, comes the light-heartedness of confidence in knowing each season can be our greatest season when we know that He Who made the seasons, is with us through them all.
"I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm. 9:1

Cornish Hens, A Street Sign and Noticing and Pondering

Lately, I've seemed to be more of a noticer AND a ponderer than ever before. Both words seem to be encased in the traditions of Christmas. I'm in good company. The shepherds were noticers of the angels who broke the news of their Savior's birth. The Wise Men were noticers of the star that led them to the Christ Child. And, Mary was a ponderer. Luke 2:19 says (after the shepherds departed): "And Mary pondered these things in her heart." I like that -- and I sure desire to follow Mary's lead, as well as the shepherds and Wise Men -- pondering and noticing.

Years ago, when we lived in Canada, our daughter, a high school student at the time, had some Winnipeg Jets Hockey player friends, and one young man became very close to our family. Along with the friendship that Staci had with this young man, my husband and I enjoyed friendship with his parents. I know it was, in part, because of both families having German backgrounds. They were fluent in speaking German. We were not, but Staci and I took some German classes at the University of Manitoba to help us understand and speak some of the language. I'd like to say we became fluent but NOT, but I can tell you that we enjoyed sailing with them on their sail boat and visiting them at their lake home. What still stays with us today, is one of the meals that Renata (that's the young man's mom) made for us. Grilled cornish hens that were seasoned with Spike. We loved it so much that it became a meal I duplicated and to this day, Staci asks me to make that meal for her -- it's become a family tradition. Grilled, "Spiked" Cornish Hens and Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta. In fact she asked me to make it for her birthday dinner. I did. Every time I have made that meal, I think about Renata and how precious she was and how much she loved my Staci. Pondering.

I was running here in Frisco the day after I made that meal for Staci a couple of days ago, and I NOTICED a street sign with the name Reata Drive. I PONDERED Renata and that delicious cornish hen meal and quietly thanked God for that memory, but then when I pondered, I prayed a little prayer for Renata. Silly thought? Or divine thought where I was led to pray for a friend that it's been well over 30 years since we were together. I took it so seriously that I found the young man (now, mature man) on Facebook and recalled some of our great times together, along with asking for his Mom's phone number. He responded with it and expressed his gratitude for our "history" together. Though I still haven't been able to get in touch with his Mom, I left her a message of gratitude for the memories and I let her know I was praying for her.

I like to think that just maybe.....noticing and pondering are part of seeing, hearing and sensing God WITH US. Remember Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (God with us)? The more I've thought about those cornish hens and the brief encounter with a street sign called Reata, the more I realized we should all think of ourselves as “God with us.” When we understand that Emmanuel is with us, then even the thoughts we think just might be exactly what and who He's wanting us to pray for and reach out to. Maybe they are just not random thoughts but bullseye target thoughts where we are to be God’s representative to our world. We can live to purposely be aware of God with us and in us to be His "light" representative which means to express the reality of His attitudes, actions, and character in and through our lives.