God has our Attention

A big smile broke across my face when I saw someone post this: “God just got fed up with His kids not getting along, so He sent us all to our rooms.” And, that’s probably true, too! Here’s what I know about our God. He doesn’t cause disease, sickness, heartache and pain. He is our loving and faithful Father. But, He often allows stuff to happen to get our attention. He definitely has our attention. In fact, the attention of the whole world. So, what are we going to do about it? Become victims or victors as we go through this inconvenient time? Notice I said “through this”. God says in Isaiah 43:2 says “…when you walk through the fire, you will not even smell like smoke…..”

If we stay the course of faith and trust in God, we WILL get through this and we will have a comeback story of gigantic proportions. Perhaps this is a grand setup that launches us into a trajectory of the most blessed times of our lives.

I'm reminded of a dear aunt’s story during these isolated times. She had debilitating Crohn’s disease that confined her to a small hospital room for nearly two years. Her husband passed away during that time. And, after all she went through -- much pain, many surgeries and complications -- she remained joy-filled, thankful, and was a light in the darkness around her. People encountered God’s light when they saw her. She was seasoned with God's peace and joy in that little room..

Another “small” room story is that of the Apostle Paul who was in a cold, dark, damp, dingy Roman prison cell – yet in the midst of his pain and suffering, he wrote these words: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

What are these quarantine and isolation experiences doing to and for you? Are you bitter.....or better because of them? Are all the extenuating circumstances making you....or breaking you? Are you a victor or a victim? Are you comforting others with the comfort that you've been comforted with? If you are a victor, you KNOW you're on assignment.....are on purpose....living in GOD's master plan.....and are causing people to come face-to-face with a better way! Indeed....you are better and are a victor ... and you're causing others to be that, too!

These times will pass. What will be your story?

Having a God-is-in-Control Mindset

Thank goodness for the winners of the political races because now we can breathe easier. The ones who won their seats in the House and Senate proclaimed that they would fix the economy, solve the issues on immigration, health care, and give their supporters whatever they want from them. So, no concerns or worries! NOT! It's a fresh, new day to realize “God is in control”! I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know WHO holds tomorrow!

It may sound like a cliché but I assure you “God’s got this!” In a culture fixated on the present and ourselves, it's understandable that there are many who are ecstatic about the outcome of yesterday's elections and others who are disappointed and anxious. We are right to be concerned about our nation, but we are wrong to worry about our future: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). When we do, (verse 7) "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". We must remember this: Our mighty God, is in control.

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, the schoolhouse, the greenhouse, House of Representatives, or a household.

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 is another gorgeous day for us to say again “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I looked for a flag that depicted who we are as Americans. This one below is the one I found. I just added the words. I have a vivid picture in my mind: "THIS FLAG stands for freedom. I'm proud to be an American where I know I am free, and I won't forget the men and women who 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 statue of liberty. In GOD I Trust! With Him, our future is secure.

Be AnxIous for Nothing (No-Thing)!

Notice the letter in the middle of the word "anxious" -- it's an I. When I am handling MY affairs, when I am the one in charge, when I rely on myself for the outcome of MY decisions and plans, then I can easily get ANXIOUS about every-thing!

Yesterday, I practiced those words “Be anxious for NO-thing” -- without the I. This follows my blog from Tuesday about handling life's stuff that comes our way with freedom from anxiety. I was taking the next step on my faith journey of hopefully moving the closing process for my new home, but because of the hailstorm damages, couldn't close today as was originally planned. I, along with Larry, my son, and the repair guy were to meet the insurance adjuster at 3:00 pm. We waited and waited....for over an hour, but he never showed up. More delays on this process. I'll admit I said things like "Whatever happened to quality customer service when you call and let people know you are running late or delayed?" But, then I realized, maybe, once again, this isn't an adjuster issue, it's an opportunity issue for me to "Be anxious for nothing (no thing)". Realizing he wasn’t going to show up, I went home to the Wallace's and Denise asked, "How did it go?" My reply was "I am anxious for no thing! And this is just a THING."

Here’s some very good teaching from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He gives us one of those “DO NOT” commands (certainly NOT a suggestion) to be anxious for nothing (no thing). By the way, let’s put his words into perspective. He wrote this letter from the dingy, wet, cold confines of a prison cell but rather than be whiny, wimpy, cranky and sulky, he dismissed his reasons for anxiety and was able to find the peace of God. How could he do that when he had all the reasons in the world to be anxious about every-thing? If we would apply Paul’s words to our circumstances, whatever they are, then we would get the results he had. This is what we can expect for ridding ourselves of the anxiety issues that stress us out, make us angry at others, and keep us from joy and peace. Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Paul lived by example for you and me. He showed us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or having a flat tire, or a missed appointment, or a bounced check, or a negative health report. He said "Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!" When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle in to our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” So I’m declaring “These THINGS may be just things, but in God's grand scheme of THINGS, they all have have purposes for blessings ahead!”

Jesus Loves Me This I Know....or Don't Know?

I never knew abuse by an angry father. But I do know the pain to have a very sick daddy. He became like a sibling to me because of brain tumor surgery that caused severe damage, as well as caused dibilitating seizures and convulsions that this little girl witnessed many times. At 8 years old, I was afraid to go home from school -- just in case he would be having another one. I have no memories of being held in my daddy's arms, being cuddled and hearing him tell me he loved me. My daddy went to heaven when I was 15.

Early on in my marriage, we hit some rough patches -- relationally, financially, etc. I remember hurting so much one day that I longed to have a daddy like I had seen my friends have -- to just run to -- so he could tell me "everything's gonna' be alright!" It was only a few moments later, that I saw, in technicolor, the clearest vision of me running into the open arms of Father God and Him lifitng me into His lap. He pressed my head into His chest, and I heard Him say, "Everything's gonna' be alright!". The peace of God, His comfort and assurance for my tomorrows swept over me like a blanket, and I sincerely knew "everything was going to be alright". And, it was.

Many of us have sung the little children's song, "Jesus loves me this I know", but many sing "Jesus loves me, and I DON"T KNOW". And, more than anything, today, I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW. I want you to experience this peace, joy and comfort because I know Him, and through life's ups and downs, He has sustained me through them all.

I know that I don't pass Facebook's recommendations for short, quick messages -- I really do know that mine are mini-blogs. They are on-purpose -- I know God gave FB to me as my mission and platform 4 years ago when my sweet husband went to heaven. I purpose to keep my posts sweet, motivational and encouraging. But, today, I don't want to mince any words. I clearly want you to hear -- straight from my heart and heaven -- that JESUS DOES LOVE YOU, and I want you to know -- without a shadow of a doubt of how wide, deep, everlasting and profound His love is. There is nothing that you have ever done that keeps Him from loving you.

I sincerely ask you, and urge you, to go to Him in prayer and ask Him to be your Daddy, your Lord and Savior. Surely you, too, will know the Dad that, perhaps, you never had, and the One who you can run to with His arms open wide.....not just today, but everyday! And, your song, too, will be "Jesus loves me THIS I KNOW!"