Mary’s Assignment – My Assignment

I’ve received many assignments from God in my life – many that involved the care for those closest to me, several in my places of employment, others that took us from one state to another, to another country and back to the U.S., missions’ assignments and other assignments that focused on me.

This week, of all times of the year, I am on an assignment to help my Frisco children get packed up and moved from their home that sold at a surprising time-of-the-year (right here at Christmas) and then helping them move and unpack at their new home – just a few miles away. The timing wasn’t exactly according to our plans. It could have easily come in the warmer, less busy time of the year! But God knew and He is the way-maker -- and His ways are higher and better than our ways! God is the Master of assigning and giving sweet assurances along the way -- and even many little miracles come that assures us “this is God’s perfect timing”.

My kids aren't the first to have received an assignment that wasn’t planned or expected. Just look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her change of plans was much greater than a few-miles- down-the-road move. Let’s picture her -- engaged to a great guy. Wedding plans in motion. Excitement is building about "the day"! But, then, her dreams are interrupted: “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus.’” (Luke 1:30-31) When Mary received this news, she didn’t react in fear or doubt. Instead her reaction was grounded in faith: “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:38)

Mary responded with confidence because her confidence began with her relationship with God. She built her confidence in Him, not on something that was outside her control. Not on someone, like Joseph. For all she knew, he would leave her once he learned she was pregnant. Did Mary understand everything God was doing? Unlikely. Or resent what He was doing? Doesn’t appear so. Would others judge her? No doubt they would, but Mary didn’t allow people’s opinions to prevent her from embracing God’s calling, even if she didn’t understand it. The lack of details didn’t impact her confidence in His plans for her life, nor her trust in Him to take care of her.

I’m desperately trying to follow Mary’s lead. I’m learning that confidence built on people or positions is a confidence built on unsolid ground. Someone, something or some place will let us all down at some point. When we build our confidence on Christ when difficult times come, our foundation will be firm in Him. The Lord uses changes and moves to faithfully bring us to a place where our gifts will grow. We should always know, just like He was to Mary, the Lord is always faithful.

Hebrews 10:35-36, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”.

More Than a Coincidence

A couple of days ago I posted about “remembering”. In the final paragraph of that post, I spoke about Christ’s words at the Last Supper from Luke 22:19: “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE of me."

COINCIDENCE: a remarkable concurrence of circumstances without apparent causal connection; providence, happenstance.

Here’s why the word COINCIDENCE is my word for today. After I had my “remembering” blog ready to post the next morning, Mom, who is busy going through family pictures to sort out which one of us she wants certain photos to go to, pulled out this photo for me. Imagine my joy and delight. Those are my two when Ryan was three and Staci was six months old. As precious as that photo is – take a look at the words on the pulpit behind them “Do this in remembrance of me.” What an absolute confirmation of how Holy Spirit is so faithful to give me my blog for the next day! I don't believe it was a mere COINCIDENCE but it was a providential circumstance.

Albert Einstein once said “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” Actually, most of us are like children playing hide and seek, wanting to be found, yet hoping we won’t be. Once we understand the way life really works — the flow of God's energy that directs every moment — then we begin to see the amazing potential in that moment.lives.

When a coincidence happens, we shouldn't ignore it. We should ask ourselves, "What is the message here? What is the significance of this?" On Thursday, Mom’s home health nurse, Karla, came over to check on her. Here’s the “coincidence”. Karla was one of the precious gals in my Life Group here in Tulsa. Of all the nurses in Tulsa, Karla became Mom’s nurse -- which has been a blessing for both of them. Mom and Karen helped Karla get out of her comfort zone, and Karla has provided such tender loving care to Mom that we couldn’t have been more pleased to have her than if we had “special ordered” her. Karla has had some physical issues and needed a an electric bed that would raise her head. Mom is selling her electronic bed in her estate sale and sold it to Karla at a bare minimum -- blessing-for-Karla price.

The point is, we don’t have to go digging for the answers. COINCIDENCES may arrive as a sudden insight or an amazing God-moment -- that you look up toward heaven and say "Thanks God! I know you did that!" I choose to believe that God is behind COINCIDENCES.. A Biblical definition of coincidence is “what occurs together by God’s providential arrangement of circumstances.” The point is – we need to stay “in the moment” of each day, so that we can readily recognize God’s hand at work in our lives that gives us the HOW, WHEN, WHERE and WHY we met that person or we went that direction, or we received that phone call, or we were delayed in traffic only to arrive at our destination in God’s perfect timing so that we would see that person that was crying and you were there to comfort them.

There are no accidents or COINCIDENCES with God. And He has a perfect timing for everything He does.

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Isaiah 46:9–10

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.

Time for Strategic, Tactical Prayers

I once had a “prayer space"– in the early years of our marriage when finances were slim and the challenges we faced seemed insurmountable, but going into my closet (my war room), I was able to not only pray about being able to stand in the midst of the battle, but I received strategies straight from heaven to come out winning. Years later, I am still a part of strategic, tactical planning and persevering to win in the battles I, and others, may face.

Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You may be praying about something and the enemy (Satan) whispers “This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you're doing? God is not listening. Don't waste your time."

I know that prayer works because God has answered so many of my prayers. He is in control, and because He’s in control, we can trust His wisdom and His goodness and His perfect timing. I have seen the results of prayer in ways beyond being conceivable.

Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes." Just think about that – if we can think it, we have to go bigger and greater – because that’s where God lives. Over twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask." It's encouraging to know that things that are out of our control are not out of God's. We may not be able to change a situation but we can pray and God can change it.

We have clearly seen the results of believing in God, especially knowing that “NOTHING is impossible for Him”. He is not a genie in a bottle that we just rub and whoa-la we get what we ask for. But He is FATHER GOD and He knows what’s best for us, and in His timing, and His perfect plan for us.....our prayers will be answered....in His perfect way.

Surprise! We've Got White Stuff

Day 76 of Photo Inspirations -- SURPRISE!   We've Got White Stuff!
And, thankfully, that white stuff isn't more snow -- it's our beautiful Tulsa Dogwoods in bloom.    I'll admit it!   I'm quite excited about this "white stuff" -- even as excited as I was for the snowy "white stuff" here just a couple of weeks ago. How soon the weather can change in Oklahoma. Monday, it was in the 80's -- today, the 50's. Actually, the inconsistent weather is one of the reasons why I love it here. Each new day can be full of surprises!

Speaking of surprises, I'm reading Mark Batterson's "Draw the Circle" 40-Day Devotional book and he says this: “But God always has a holy surprise up His sovereign sleeve. And when we pray, God throws surprise parties!” And it's so true. If we'll trace it back, every blessing or divine appointment or miracle that comes our way was a "set-up" by God.....because we prayed about it and just really expected that one day we'd witness His perfect timing for answering that prayer. God's Word backs this up...."You have not, because you ask not" - James 4:2. He wants to hear from us, and taking a time out for a little talk with Him is what matters to Him.

I can recount so many surprises (an unexpected check in the mail, an unexpected encounter with someone that led to great opportunity, being given something for FREE instead of having to pay for it, winning a trip, being given a car, someone showing up at our door wanting to buy one of our properties NOW, being the winner of a raffle, having a debt PAID IN FULL -- unexpectantly -- all surprises. And when one of those surprises shows up, I often look up to heaven and say, "You did that, didn't YOU? I live in the FOG -- Favor of God. Is it because I'm better, more favored or blessed than anyone else?  Heavens no!   I simply live prayerfully, and in an "expectant" mode that "Something good is going to happen to me today!"   I'malways on the look-out for God's surprises!  

My surprise blessing yesterday was driving through town and seeing all of those beautiful Dogwoods in bloom. It's nearly Spring and new life is starting to show itself, and surprise us.  And,  the all-time greatest surprise?   Resurrection Sunday will soon be here when we celebrate the ORIGINAL SURPRISER showing up ALIVE AND WELL!

The Thing Is NOT The Thing

Day 35 of Photo Inspirations -- The Thing is NOT The Thing!
I saw this photo of an iceberg and it reminded me of the Alaskan Cruise we took several years ago when our ship docked in Juneau and we took the tour to the Mendenhall Glacier.  This amazing glacier is 12 miles long, a half-mile wide and from 300 to 1,800 feet deep. And an iceberg is what breaks off from a glacier and can be hundreds of feet in depth.  From the Titanic catastrophe, we know what an iceberg can cause.

So, "The Thing is NOT The Thing"!  Hidden below the surface it is far deeper than it is high.  In fact, what is on top is just "the tip of the iceberg".  And to relate that to our lives -- we may be going through a major circumstance or challenge that seems to be THE THING.  But when we look at it from another perspective, it's not THE THING at all.  There is a Master-minded plan that is far greater than what it looks like on the surface.  Could it be that the financial upheaval, is really the opportunity to turn our life around and into THE THING that takes us to ultimate success?    The THING is NOT the THING.

Remember the 9/11 stories that THINGS kept them from getting to work on time and thereby saved their lives?  One fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.  One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.   One of them missed his bus.  One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change. One's car wouldn't start.  One went back to answer the telephone. One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.  Then there was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, but before he got to work, developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

The point I'm making is for us to realize stuff happens in our day -- but that stuff (THE THING) may not be THE THING.  It just may be God's way of sparing us from certain harm or accident.  It may be that THOSE THINGS are THE THINGS God is using to effect His perfect plan for our lives.

The next time we're stuck in traffic, break a glass and it goes everywhere, get a flat tire, receive a call from yet another telemarketer, or we are on hold in a telephone queue, or wait in a long check-out line -- all the little things that annoy or perplex us, let's think that this is exactly where God wants us to be at this very moment.   Let's credit it to our all-knowing, all--seeing God Who is at work in our lives. His THING is THE very best THING for our lives!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5
#PerfectTiming #Trust #TheThingIsNotTheThing

Playing the "Waiting" Game!

Waiting on a traffic light....what seems forever! Waiting for a doctor appointment..... what seems beyond usual. Waiting in what we thought was the fastest line at the grocery store.....only to realize THAT was the slowest line.

It is inevitable that we will spend a great deal of time in this life.....waiting. Lines at the airport, stores, theater lines, gas station lines, rush hour traffic, doctors' appointments, bank lines, and even waiting in a telephone call queue.

And, we just have to deal with it -- it is what it is!

So why should it be any different when we're waiting on God? There is ginormous difference in waiting on God because of His PERFECT timing to provide what we need -- when we need it!

He promised in Isaiah 40:31 "Those who WAIT for the LORD will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary." And, in Psalm 27:14, "Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

So, today, let's just deal with it....because when God's light turns green for us.....we will surely declare.."It was worth the wait!"