It’s Okay to Call Out for Help

I was inquisitive enough to read “The Pilgrim’s Progress” over the last couple of days. Allegories aren’t my forte, but I did understand “Christian” was looking for the Celestial City throughout. I’m so visual that I needed technicolor and visual characters to help me grasp it. So, I rented the 2019 animated version on Amazon Prime. Aha! The lights in my brain flickered and brightened as I watched it. I was blessed.

I had heard others refer to the book by John Bunyan time and again. It was his greatest work and now, it has been a source of spiritual inspiration and help to countless readers. Translated into over 200 languages, it has never been out of print since the day it was first published in 1678. John Bunyan was arrested for preaching the gospel. His wife died leaving him with four children, one who was blind. Yet he refused to give up telling people the good news about Jesus. Certainly, out of his greatest tragedies, and while in prison, came a victory that still captures the hearts of millions – and better yet, many have come to see the Celestial City themselves – particularly by the way they live this life on this side of the Celestial City.

“The Pilgrim’s Progress” tells the story of a person called ‘Christian’ on a journey from his hometown to the Celestial City. On the way, he faces many strangers – some good for him and his faith and others that do their best to steal his faith and his life. He encounters incredible difficulties, challenges and obstacles, yet he perseveres faithfully to the end.

Honestly, as I read this book and saw the movie come to life, I was taken by the parallels of the times we are in today. We don’t need a book or movie to reveal that a Christian life is not always a piece-of-cake. I say a big "Amen!" to that! I’m so thankful that I was tight with Jesus and He guided and held me through some major tumultuous times. My life has been exciting AND perplexing enough that a book and movie could be written right alongside “The Pilgrim’s Progress”.

Truth is we all face many difficulties along life’s way. But, they don’t have to derail us. As I saw in this book/movie, if we go through difficult times while staying close to Jesus, we will emerge stronger, wiser, and even more Christ-like because of the trials, temptations, the tough times…..that don’t last, but tough people do. In fact they outlast all others, because if there’s one thing we know for sure – we live not just this life on earth….but those of us who follow the “Good Shepherd” and His paths, we’ll live forever and ever with Him. It’s a guarantee.

Throughout the Bible and in particular, the Psalm, we hear how David and others cried out to God for help. Have you ever poured out your complaints? I have. And, you know what? It’s okay. God has big shoulders. The truth is the sweet relationship we have with God isn’t always sweet. Sometimes we cry out for help and sometimes comfort just doesn’t come right away. I’ve been there and had some sleepless nights. “Christian” felt like God had rejected him and that he would never experience God’s favor again. So, it was with the psalmist. So, it was with John Bunyan. So, it was with Donna.

Here’s what I know. God is always there for us, telling us “Lay your burdens down at the feet of your King. Not one of the hairs on your head go unnoticed.” (That’s a line from the book, as well as scriptures in the Bible.) These photos show the heavy burden Christian carried until the closer he came to the cross – the more he was set free from his burden. Here is our consolation and assurance -- no matter how we feel and no matter what we say, when we are crying for help – we can be assured that God wants us to be real with Him. He doesn't want us to pretend that all is well. An earthly dad would want our truth. For sure, God wants to hear the cries of our heart. That draws us close to Him even in times of great distress.

Thank you, Lord, that you hear our cries for help. Thank you for not rejecting us, but holding us, taking our burdens from us and leading us closer to the cross where we are set free.

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4)

When Mountains Don’t Move

I know mountains. I’ve gazed at their beauty from a distance. I’ve skied down them. I’ve driven the winding roads to the top of them and embraced the beauty from the top looking down. And I know MOUNTAINS -- those vast, enormous obstacles and circumstances that seem beyond overwhelming.

We think that if only these mountains were removed, our lives might be more peaceful. But, there must be mountains to appreciate the valleys. And perhaps, God, in all His wisdom, is wanting us to scale those mountains. He is wanting us to hike up those mountains for a “mountain-top experience” where we are refreshed, restored, nourished, and where we receive divine revelation. His revelation is always intended to grow our faith, strengthen our resolve, and equip us to take on any mountain that may be standing in our way.

I sang along as my car radio played Lauren Daigle's “I Will Trust in You” song. I meant the words as I belted them out with her:
“When You don't move the mountains I'm needing You to move; When You don't part the waters I wish I could walk through;;
When You don't give the answers as I cry out to You;
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You”

It’s difficult to trust someone when they’ve let us down by mistakes they made and we wonder if we can ever trust them again. Oh, but not so with our God. He is dependable, true, honest, unwavering, loving and faithful in all His ways. So when our mountains aren’t moving, we can do but one thing – trust in He Who knows best. Father knows best.

I speak from firsthand experience…..again. Through the heartaches, amazingly, I experienced more of God’s love. It’s unlike anything the world can offer. Sure, I’ve cried and even had some wailing times, but God extended strength, peace, and joy during the difficult times. Only God, the Creator of all good things, could have carried me through those times.

Do you ever stop to consider God’s point of view when you’re going through a hard time? He’s a good, loving Father. He could have changed circumstances with a snap of his holy fingers, but He decided on the slow – let her "trust in Me" grow-times. I can see clearly now. He wanted me to share my story with others who have experienced pain, loss and disappointment. Maybe He saw how it all would strengthen my faith and the faith of others. Maybe He saw how He would be glorified.

And, maybe, God intervenes more than I realize, maybe, more than we all realize, and maybe God might have prohibited a situation from happening that would have been even more difficult. I sure don’t know it all, but I do know I just need to trust my good, loving Father. Whether it seems big or small, God cares and desires to reveal His love for you. Let’s trust God, even when our plans don’t seem to align with His.

Here is That Rainbow I've Been Praying For

Yesterday I was listening to the downpour of rain. I knew the outdoor event I was attending would be postponed. But, we had seen the forecast, so it was already planned that the event would resume later in the day when the rain was gone. I thought about this old song:
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

Oh yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

Don’t those words express how we feel when, at last, the verdict comes out in our favor? Or, when the medical procedure or test reveals no disease? Or the baby is delivered after many hours of labor? Or the final exam grades were good enough to pass or even to earn a scholarship? Or any other test or trial that we go through that seems to have no end, but THEN, the bright, sun-shining day makes its way through to us.

Now, we’re singing a song of rejoicing because the obstacles that seemed insurmountable, the dark clouds, the pain, and the rain, are gone. All along God was there and we see the results of the work He has been doing in our lives. Oh, happy day! When we are going through difficult times, it is hard to see God’s Master Plan at work and, for goodness sake, we wonder what benefit could He possibly have in mind in the midst of our trials. The wait. Oh, the patience we must have during the wait. Why, Lord, does it take so long? Again, we hear. “Be patient, my child, I am working all things for your good. I promise you, you will thank me later.”

The Apostle James expressed it this way: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4). Count it for joy? Seriously?

In God’s grand scheme of things…..the trials and the tests make us stronger. Our spiritual and moral fiber is being strengthened. Our story will soon have silver linings and it will be one, not only for the record books, but it will be a story that glorifies God and gives testimony to others of God’s amazing grace.

So now, we carry on. We pick up our swords and our crosses and we carry them with honor to the finish line. It won’t be much longer and it will be a bright sun-shining day again. The rainbow that we’ve been praying for will soon appear. What if trials of this life -- the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are God’s mercies in disguise?

“Weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning.” Psalm 30:5.

Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything

Yesterday, when Buddy (Payton’s Australian Shepherd) and I headed out for our daily walk, I seemed to be more in tune to our surroundings than usual. I’m noticing more now about the sweet times I’ve had and am having with the Wallace’s because soon this will all change. Living with them (on and off between my Austin Family and my friends and mother-in-law in Tulsa) is drawing to a close as I’ll be moving to my new place on April 1st. The everyday routines will soon be different as I go back to my single life. For example, I’ve been royally spoiled to Denise’s amazing cooking, hearing my Payton regularly playing his piano, Alexia – randomly popping into my room with “Nana, let’s watch a movie!”, the sweet devotional times with the family and so many other routines. But, it’s time for me to move on to making my own sweet times with new friends and opportunities.

As Buddy and I walked yesterday, I thought about these sweet mornings we've shared. He lies outside my bedroom door, just waiting for me to say the words “walk” and then he goes into an excited frenzy. While we visit – me talking to him, singing to my Lord, saying “Good Morning” to other walker/runners, I watch for details and yesterday morning, more than usual. I remembered when I first came here back in November, that I had a rude awakening to my being so caught up in my surroundings, that I didn't notice the pitfalls, like the sidewalk pictured here that caught me by surprise and I went down in one fell swoop.

You can see the obstacles that could cause one to stumble -- the very cracked sidewalk and the unlevel sidewalk. I have appreciated that Buddy was “walking" trained as a pup because other dogs who weren’t trained and go ballistic when they see him, but he just keeps marching on and looks at them like “What is YOUR problem?” Buddy has taught me not to be distracted by barking dogs or barking, cranky people. Just keep moving along and don’t give them the time of day, other than being an example of a steady, calm and peace spirit.

"The Trails" is the community, where my kids live. That’s because there are biking, walking and driving trails all throughout the neighborhood and golf course. Some of the trails might have some major vehicle traffic. In that case, we just stay consistent, keeping our pace, ignoring the road noise and hustle and bustle of those getting to school and work. That, too, reminds me of the noise that can come into our lives via conflict, anxiety, worry, and need-for-speed, but, like on this walk with Buddy….we just stay in peace and press on to the finish line of our walk. Some of the trails are through the back side of homes where you’ll see swimming pools, back yard havens, children’s swing sets – all that represent rest and peace, which reminds me of Psalm 23 where we read about the Lord being our shepherd and making us lie down in green pastures….but it also talks about “Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death….I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” -- peaceful times; troubled times – but NO FEAR!

As we rounded our way back to our home street, my eyes went to this beautiful red bud tree that shouts "Springtime ahead!" old things passed away and new birth is here again. Then we came upon these two doves sitting in a tree beside our walk – no sound, no anxiety – they didn’t even get worried about these two intruders walking by them. That makes perfect sense because the dove has long been a symbol of peace. I could hear God speak “Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon me.” Isaiah 26:3.

In Steve DeWitt’s outstanding book, “Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything”, he explains enjoying God's presence this way:

In Steve DeWitt’s outstanding book, “Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything”, he explains enjoying God's presence this way:

“Creation speaks to us — every day, all the time, constantly shouting truths about spiritual reality. Did you hear it this morning as you got up? Did you feel any truth about God this morning as you took a hot shower? Did you taste any truth as you delighted in your morning coffee? Did you hear any divine reality as you heard a bird singing? Did you see any truth as you saw the blue of the sky? What have you actually felt, tasted, touched, seen, and heard today? The whole earth is filled with His glory. Every day creation shouts to us, God is glorious! God is creator! God is provider! God is love! God is there! . Everywhere I look, everything I feel, hear, smell, and taste transmits the beauty of God through the beauty of creation. He is the beauty behind all beauty.”

I think those words summarize my purposeful awe and wonder of all of God’s creation. I saw the Creator’s finest last week at Disney World where God infused imagination, ability, and tenacity into an inventor and creator. This week I’ve seen the Creator’s finest in the morning air, the budding trees, these ears that hear the sounds of the morning, these eyes that see the beauty, this nose He created to smell the rich savors of Spring, this mouth to taste the delicious waffles made by one of his originals….Denise. I sincerely believe that God is in EVERYTHING, so I worship Him in words and song. No wonder I sang these words as I walked yesterday morning “I worship You, Almighty God. There is none like You. I worship You, oh Prince of Peace, that is what I long to do. I give You praise, for you are my righteousness. I worship You, Almighty God. There is none like You."

Walking By Faith

As I’ve taken on this year as a great adventure, how appropriate that I would look up on the wall in my “Frisco” bedroom (aka The Guest Room for others that visit the Wallace’s), and see this stencil drawing just above the closet door, and directly across from the comfy and cozy bed. "We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7.

What perfect words to see, meditate on, and embrace for this new year. There may be situations and circumstances along the way that I see that could be interpreted as obstacles, inconveniences or bumps in the road, but if I take on this scripture as my 2017 slogan, then I’ll always have a sense of knowing that "walking by faith" is a journey of tremendous blessing and reward. It is a journey that may be exciting, and it can even be life-altering and mind-boggling.

Walking by faith and not by sight requires us to go to a place we don't know, but one that God will reveal as we walk in obedience to Him.

Walking by faith means that we continue to cling to the dreams God has planted in our heart, even though it seems those dreams are risky and it's taking a long time for them to come true.

Walking by faith requires a strong determination to follow God’s plan regardless what life throws our way.

Walking by faith means we may have to do some pretty crazy, hairy and scary things. Think about Noah building an ark for a flood when it had never even rained on earth. Think about Abraham clinging to the promise that he would be the father of many nations even though he was childless at the age of 100.

Choosing the "walking by faith" life, means we get out of our comfort zone, are willing to let God take our world and turn it upside down, shake it up, and even start all over again. And, in doing so, we let God out of the neat little box that we have put Him in, and give Him the liberty to show up when He's good and ready -- with his PERFECT timing.

I don’t know where you are on this journey of walking by faith, but I encourage you to take the first step of the walk. That first step is the first step to success. It's a decision we'll never regret because He assures us He’ll be with us to complete what He starts in us.

No Excuses -- Just Do It!

In Exodus we read all the excuses Moses had when God asked him to step up and deliver His people from the grip of the Egyptians. Listen to the excuses he had: I’m not good enough, I don’t have all the answers, People won’t believe me,I’m a terrible public speaker, and I’m not qualified. Thankfully, he got over his "excuses" attitude and became the man that showed remarkable courage, obedience, and strength of character. He fulfilled his mission faithfully. God works with each of us where we are and takes us to where He wants us to be. We just need to be willing to leave behind the excuses.

It's no secret that I'm a reality show junkie. I particularly enjoy the ones that display die-hard athletes who push themselves to the limits in crazy obstacle courses and apparatuses. A new show just came out called Spartan where families and friends come together as teams to compete for a big prize, but to win that big prize they must conquer obstacle courses unlike any I've ever seen. It's an adrenaline rush to watch them. But, still, my favorite show is ANW (American Ninja Warrior) especially because of the background and the insurmountable difficulties of some of the athletes who compete.

Last week's ANW featured Allison Toepperwein, a 38-year old, single mom who has Parkinson's Disease. Of all things, she started training for ANW because she learned that the ony thing that slows down Parkinson's disease is exercise. When she does ninja training, she has more energy, no tremors, gets a natural high from the dopemin that is produced. She said, "ANW was the catalyst I needed to be the very best mother and person I can be. So what if I have to take meds three times a day. Who cares that I shake a little when I wake up, get nervous or when my meds wear off? The greatest lesson I could have learned from ANW has been realizing PD is NOT a liability to me!" Whew! Watching her face those apparatuses was beyond incredible. She didn't make it through to the end, but I give this gal so much credit for being a "No excuses" kind of gal.

Then there was Artis Thompson, who had lost his leg in a motorcycle accident, and now wears a prosthetic and took on the ANW course with fierceness. The commentator said, "Those of you viewing at home, what's YOUR excuse?"

Those words went deep into my spirit as even at this "mature" age, I don't want to have excuses for not giving everything I've got to this life I've been given. I want my story to end with "She was unstoppable!" No, I'm not planning on trying out for some ninja obstacles or apparatuses, but I do plan to continue to be God's Ninja Warrior -- taking on life's obstacles, challenges and pressures with a vengeance. I refuse to give up until I'm taken up. There a hyphen in between the date of birth and the date of death on gravestones. What does that hyphen represent in our lives? I sure want mine to be "lived life to the fullest, didn't accept quitting, ran her race with gusto, pressed on to the finish line". What does your hyphen represent? With God, limits are all off! I don't think "excuse" is in His vocabulary. Why should it be in ours?

American Ninja Warrior -- Thinking Outside the Box

Please don't judge me....I love the show "American Ninja Warrior"! I watch it while I'm in warrior mode on my treadmill (I tape the show to get each episode). I watch these people pushing their bodies beyond human possibility. They rigorously train for a year to become the "American Ninja Warrior". In 5 seasons, no one has won, yet the show has proven to be the best reality competition series ever. The competitors have their athletic & mental skills tested beyond limits in the crazy, and seemingly impossible-to-conquer obstacles. Though in 5 seasons, there has been no winner, there will be. I promise you. Olympians, professional athletes, rock climbers, runners and everyday folks -- men and women of all ages and backgrounds -- train for their one shot to compete, many of which end in mere seconds on the first obstacle. So what's the appeal?

Sure, a $500K reward is a factor, but hearing the stories of the people that overcome adversity for their cause and goals is the most amazing. Whether they're doing it for an ill friend, a mother with breast cancer or whether it's their own personal achievement -- weight loss, beating drugs or alcohol -- and it's something that we all can identity with.

Last week, I saw many veteran competitors try to win over one particular obstacle, the cannonballs -- where they had to lunge toward the hanging ball, hold tightly and lunge to the next ball. One by one, the veterans failed and fell into the water. Then a rookie, Kevin Bull, successfully made his way through all the obstacles and then it was his turn to defeat the cannonballs. I watched as he went outside the box, by thinking of another way to get it done. He swung to the last one -- and not with his hands, but his feet and conquered that obstacle. He won't be the last -- there will be others that will conquer that obstacle, too.

Wasn't that like Roger Bannister, the first to conquer the 4-minute mile, and now high school athletes can run the 4-minute mile. What are you willing to achieve by thinking outside the box? What are you willing to do to accomplish your goals? I don't know about you.....but watching the relentless determination of these warriors sure makes me want to give my ALL -- physically, mentally, and spiritually to use what God has given me....to conquer any obstacle that comes my way.....and even do so, sometimes, by "thinking outside the box"!